This year, more than twice as many people have drowned compared to the same period last year. At the same time that swimming skills are decreasing among younger children, many adults have an overconfidence in their own ability, points out the Swedish Lifesaving Society (SLS).
Many of the nearly 25 people who have died in drownings this year are children. There is also a trend in society that swimming skills are decreasing among children.
– It’s a worrying trend and we have introduced water safety training together with the Norwegian Agency for Community Safety and Emergency Preparedness, MSB, to increase the safety of people exposed in and near water, says Louise Brädde, expert at SLS.
She also believes that people have a faulty image of what actually happens when drowning.
“Can’t call for help”
– We think people will wave and call for help, but often it is a silent drowning. You keep your hands under the surface to float and try to breathe with your mouth, so you can’t call for help, she says.
Therefore, it is important that you as a parent are present, do not look at mobile phones or other screens and are involved in what is happening among the playing children.
Another reason why there have been more drowning accidents is the fine weather.
– You can draw a parallel to the warm weather. It was like that in 2018 with and
now we are heading towards a hot summer again, so we feel a strong concern, she says.