The motto is: never tire of raising awareness of the dangers that really lurk in the cool water. The new prevention concept for "Raising awareness of the dangers of swimming in flowing waters" is aimed at the target group of swimmers. With a short film "Drowning is silent", played using VR (virtual reality) glasses, people can experience first-hand what it feels like to drift away from the shore and be in danger.

On Tuesday afternoon (21 May), experts from the Duisburg water police presented the concept on the Rhine near Düsseldorf on board the boat "WSP 1". The Minister of the Interior of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, also followed the presentation with excitement and commented: "We have already had good experiences with VR glasses in traffic accident prevention. Now we are also taking them to our waterways. I hope that we can reach many swimmers with them and prevent swimming accidents. Caution and prudence are also required when swimming. Every swimming fatality is one too many."

Conclusion: Look out for warning signs on the banks of waterways and treat yourself and others responsibly on and in waterways. This way you can enjoy the next few hot days!

Every year, new warning notices are published. But unfortunately, despite tireless warnings, swimming attempts or daring tests of courage in the Rhine end fatally every year. Even those who are only up to their knees in the water can be pulled in by the unpredictable currents. The chances of getting out of the Rhine alive are slim.

Further information can be found on the website of the water police:

https://polizei.nrw/en/Life-threatening%20danger%20in%20the%20Rhine