Corona Pandemic Leads to Shortage of Lifeguards, Large Bathrooms Employ Their Own

The lack of lifeguards in Wittenberg recently meant that the Reinsdorf lido no longer exists. It has been converted into an “open bathing area” with no jetty, slide or bathing island, for which no entrance fee is charged.

Because of the corona pandemic, hardly any training had taken place for three years. In addition, there was no further training, lifeguard certificates had expired. If school classes with 90 children wanted to book a lifeguard today, it would be pretty hopeless.

Volunteer lifeguards are employed in Saxony-Anhalt by the DLRG or the water rescue service of the German Red Cross. As a DRK spokesman reported to MDR SACHSEN-ANHALT, there were a total of 748 trained lifeguards in the ranks of the water rescue service last year.

Large pools such as in Wittenberg-Piesteritz, the Barleber See nature recreation center in Magdeburg or the Hettstedt outdoor pool have their own employed lifeguards who receive a fixed monthly salary.