When the heat wave reaches the entire country, the drowning accidents usually become more frequent, according to the Swedish Lifesaving Society. The last two weeks have made it extra clear – and it is estimated that there has been a drowning per day.
It is extremely much, says Göran Bertilsson, chairman of the Swedish Lifesaving Society's safety council.
”Notable”
This year, 40 people have drowned up to the end of June, according to the organization. But if the accidents so far have been more frequent in July than in previous years, it is not possible to say.
It is a very high peak at this time, but if the monthly result for July will be greater or less than it usually is, we cannot answer today.
The Swedish Lifesaving Society is also worried about the trend where fewer young adults can swim. Mainly, they see how children have gone through the entire school without learning the swimming stroke, which Göran Bertilsson says is unacceptable.
Life jacket makes a difference
It has also become common for the rescue service to be alerted about missing children near water, where it sometimes has been fatal. Göran Bertilsson emphasizes that adults must have children within arm's length in the water and under constant supervision.
If there are several adults bathing with children, then it is a good idea that you agree on who has the responsibility, so the others can take care of something else, such as looking at the phone.
Accidents among both children and adults also often occur in the evening. When temperatures rise, more people go boating, which makes accidents with small boats increase.
The difference between whether it becomes a near-accident or a fatal drowning is whether you have a life jacket or not, says Göran Bertilsson.
