You should pay attention to this when you go to a recreational lake with your child
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Guys guys, what a sun-drenched summer this is. And so you will enjoy splashing and splashing in a recreational lake. But how do you know which places are safe to swim? NU.nl asked Rijkswaterstaat and the Rescue Brigade.
The most important tip they give is: always choose an official outdoor swimming spot. And are you unsure whether the lake near you is ‘official’? Then call the swimming water telephone.
Blue-green algae
The official outdoor swimming areas are monitored by people from the Rescue Brigade. They supervise the swimmers and see if everything is safe. These lakes are also regularly checked for, among other things, blue-green algae: small organisms that are in the water and can be toxic, which can make you sick. Cherryl Naarden of Rijkswaterstaat against NU.nl: “Blue green algae, for example, can have a turquoise color, but that is difficult to recognize as a layman.”
Read also: Experts warn: most children drown quickly and without a sound
Wristband
If you go to a lake with your children, the Rescue Brigade recommends that you arrange a landmark. “An ice cream truck, for example, or a certain tree,” says press officer Elske Hoving. “Or give your child a wristband with his or her name and your telephone number on it: also useful if you lose each other.” If your child is still small, Hoving advises keeping a maximum distance of an arm’s length. “And make sure they go up to their knees in the water.”
Sun in the back
If you do lose your child, it is wise to report this to the supervisor as soon as possible. A lost child usually walks away with the sun at his back. Girls with long hair often walk against the wind.
Where you can swim nicely (and safely)? We have listed the finest lakes and ponds in the Netherlands.
Source: NU.nl
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