Prime Minister Boris Rhein praises the work of the DLRG
They are there when people in the water run out of strength: the lifeguards of the German Life Saving Society (DLRG). This year, Hessian Prime Minister Boris Rhein is supporting their work with a total of 11,000 euros from special funds. 22 district and district associations of Hessen each receive 500 euros. The district of Offenbach e. V. and the district association Offenbach-Land e. V. each receives 500 euros in special funds. The special funds, which are spent on charitable, social, sporting and cultural purposes, come from the proceeds of the lotteries.
“We saw this summer how important it is to know how to swim. This year the number of bathing deaths was higher than in the past. Knowing how to swim is not only beautiful, but also vital,” Rhein said in Wiesbaden on Wednesday. That is why the state also supports the swimming courses, which are organized by the DLRG Landesverband Hessen eV and the Hessian Swimming Association eV in cooperation with the Ministry of Hessian Interior and the Hessian Ministry of Education with the project “Hessian learns to swim. “The project enables children and young people aged eight to 13 who do not yet have a bronze German swimming badge – the so-called “Freischwimmer” – to learn to swim for free. In this way, swimming accidents can be avoided, which facilitates the work of the DLRG,” explained the prime minister, adding: “Being able to swim safely is the best protection against drowning. Plus, swimming makes you strong, and a pin on your bathing suit or bathing suit makes you proud.”
According to Rhein, the men and women of the German Life Saving Society save many lives and contribute to greater safety by taking swimming lessons. The DLRG also carries out important work in swimming pools and lakes. “Many people managed to survive thanks to the rapid intervention of rescuers,” said Rhein. Good training is essential for this courageous intervention.
The Prime Minister stressed that DLRG, as a non-profit association, could also receive help from the state’s “Hessen Stands Together” program if the energy crisis causes liquidity bottlenecks that threaten the company’s existence and federal aid does not were enough to stabilize the situation. “We as the state government of Hessen are acting to preserve as much as possible this grown and identity-forming club, association and cultural landscape with its many initiatives.”
Read more about the project “Hesse learns to swim” here:
https://www.hessen-lernt-schwimmen.de/.
(Text: PM Hessian state government)
