Wasserwacht des DRK

What Wasserwacht des DRK does

Wasserwacht des DRK is the water rescue organization of the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross), founded in 1883 and headquartered in Berlin at the DRK Generalsekretariat. The organization delivers drowning prevention, water rescue, and swimming education services across Germany through a network of local chapters (Ortsgruppen), district associations (Kreisverbände), and state associations (Landesverbände). Wasserwacht serves children, youth, families, the general public, and institutional customers such as schools and kindergartens, with primary use cases including swimming badge certification (Schwimmabzeichen), rescue swimming training (Rettungsschwimmen), and water safety awareness.

Core offerings span digital and physical channels. The principal digital product is eLearning Rettungsschwimmen, a free interactive online module launched in September 2025 to prepare candidates for the theoretical exam of the German rescue swimming badge. Physical offerings include the annual Schwimmabzeichentage (national swimming badge testing days, scheduled June 13-21 in 2026), in-person swimming instruction at pools, lakes, and waterways, water rescue deployment, and the Baderegeln (bathing rules) curriculum. Adjacent educational materials include the multilingual 'Schwimmen lernen in der Schule' brochures in ten languages and children's books such as 'Mein erster Schwimmunterricht.' The organization also engages in policy advocacy through the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition for swimming pool infrastructure preservation.

The revenue model is non-profit and mission-funded. Wasserwacht receives revenue from Fördermitgliedschaft (supporting membership) fees at suggested tiers of 30, 60, or 90 EUR on flexible billing cadences, individual and corporate donations, and institutional funding via the DRK network and government civil protection allocations. All educational outputs (eLearning, badges, brochures) are provided free of charge. Strategic partnerships with DLRG, Deutscher Kanu Verband, VDWS, DGUV, and the Bäderallianz coalition position Wasserwacht as a coordinating backbone for water safety in Germany rather than a standalone commercial operator.

Name

Wasserwacht des DRK

Legal name

Wasserwacht des DRK - Wasserrettungsorganisation des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes

Website

https://mit-sicherheit-am-wasser.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wasserwacht des DRK is the water rescue and drowning prevention organization of the German Red Cross, founded in 1883. It delivers swimming education, rescue swimming certification, and water safety services to the German public, children, families, and schools through a nationwide volunteer network and free eLearning programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Rescue and Safety Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Fire Protection (922160)

akta.pro primary industry

Lifeguard, Water Rescue & Aquatic Safety Training (EDAOAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination (HLAJAGAJ), Disaster Preparedness, Risk Reduction & Early Warning (DRR) (BPAGAAAB), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & Preparedness (BPADADAK)

Keywords

• Water rescue services
• Swimming education
• Drowning prevention
• Water safety training
• Aquatic emergency services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The Wasserwacht generates revenue through membership fees from supporting members (Fördermitglieder) who contribute annual dues to support the organization's water rescue and swimming education mission.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts donations from individuals and corporations to support its humanitarian mission of water safety, drowning prevention, and swimming education across Germany.
3. Government and DRK Support: As part of the German Red Cross, Wasserwacht receives institutional support and funding through the broader DRK network, including from federal and state government disaster preparedness and response allocations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wasserwacht des DRK is the water rescue organization of the German Red Cross, providing drowning prevention, water rescue services, swimming education, and water safety awareness across Germany. Its core offerings include swimming instruction and certification through the German swimming badge system (Schwimmabzeichen), the free eLearning Rettungsschwimmen module for rescue swimming exam preparation, water safety rule sets (Baderegeln), and nationwide events such as Schwimmabzeichentage. Operations are delivered through a network of local chapters and DRK district and state associations.

Product overview

Die Wasserwacht des DRK ist die Wasserrettungsorganisation des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes und bietet ein breites Portfolio an Produkten und Dienstleistungen im Bereich Wassersicherheit und Rettungswesen. Das Kernangebot umfasst Bildungsprodukte wie das eLearning Rettungsschwimmen und Schwimmabzeichen zur Förderung der Schwimmfähigkeit, ergänzt durch Sicherheitsrichtlinien wie die Baderegeln. Im Bereich Notfallversorgung bietet die Organisation Rettungsdienst, Blutspende und Betreuungsdienst für Katastrophenschutz an. Zusätzlich engagiert sich die Wasserwacht mit strategischen Initiativen wie der Bäderallianz Deutschland und der Strategie 2030 für nachhaltige Wassersicherheit. Die Organisation stellt auch Bildungsmaterialien wie Minibücher für Kinder und mehrsprachige Informationen zum Schwimmenlernen bereit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• eLearning Rettungsschwimmen Free interactive eLearning module for rescue swimming certification preparation, covering theoretical examination content for the German rescue swimming badge. Target audience: individuals preparing for the German rescue swimming badge examination.
• Schwimmabzeichen (German Swimming Badge) Certification Certification of swimming ability through the recognized German swimming badge (Deutsches Schwimmabzeichen) system for children, youth, and adults across Germany.
• Schwimmabzeichentage (Swimming Badge Days) Annual nationwide event offering swimming badge tests across Germany to verify and promote swimming ability of the population. Over 13,000 swimming badges were awarded during the 2023 edition.
• Wasserrettungsdienst (Water Rescue Service) Volunteer water rescue service provided at swimming pools, lakes, rivers, and waterways across Germany to prevent drowning and respond to water-related emergencies. Approximately 200 people are rescued from drowning annually.
• Schwimmausbildung (Swimming Instruction) Swimming instruction services for children, families, schools, and kindergartens including water familiarization (Wassergewöhnung) programs for early childhood, school swimming curricula, and kindergarten water safety education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200 people rescued from drowning annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DLRG (Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Joint safety campaign for Stand-Up Paddling (SUP) safety rules. Wasserwacht and DLRG collaborate on water safety initiatives and drowning prevention programs across Germany.
• Deutscher Kanu VerbandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Partnership for SUP safety guidelines and water sports safety promotion. Joint development of safety recommendations for stand-up paddling.
• VDWS (Verband Deutscher Wassersport Schulen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Collaboration on SUP safety rules and water sports education standards. VDWS contributes expertise in water sports instruction.
• Bäderallianz DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition for the preservation and modernization of swimming pools in Germany. Wasserwacht supports demands for maintaining swimming infrastructure essential for water safety education.
• DGUV (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on publications for swimming education in schools (DGUV Information 202-107) and water familiarization in kindergartens (DGUV Information 202-079).
• DRK-Landesverband Mecklenburg-VorpommernminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative project 'Rette sich, wer's kann' (Save yourself who can) for kindergarten swimming education, supported by donations from DVAG and Verein Menschen brauchen Menschen.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross: The American Red Cross is the U.S. member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, alongside DRK. It is comparable as a sister national society delivering disaster response, health and safety training (including swimming and water safety), and humanitarian services through a volunteer network.
• British Red Cross: The British Red Cross is the UK national society of the Red Cross movement, providing emergency response, first aid, and humanitarian aid. Comparable as a peer national Red Cross/Red Crescent society operating alongside DRK in the international movement, with overlapping training and volunteer models.
• Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB): ASB is a German nationwide humanitarian aid organization with civil protection, emergency response, and social service missions. It is comparable as a parallel German non-profit humanitarian umbrella that competes with DRK for volunteers, donations, and disaster response funding.
• Malteser Hilfsdienst: Malteser is a German Catholic humanitarian organization operating emergency medical services, disaster relief, and youth programs. It is comparable as a peer German humanitarian non-profit competing for volunteers and donations in adjacent emergency response and first-aid training domains.
• Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe: Johanniter is a German humanitarian organization within the international Order of St. John, providing rescue services, civil protection, and social welfare. It is comparable as a peer German humanitarian non-profit with overlapping emergency response and youth education operations.

Direct peers

• Surf Life Saving Australia: Surf Life Saving Australia is a volunteer surf lifesaving organization delivering beach patrols, lifeguard training, and swimming education. It is highly comparable in its volunteer-driven water safety and education model, with similar annual patrolling and badge/certification programs.
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI): RNLI is the UK's volunteer-led lifeboat and water safety charity, providing lifeguard training, beach rescue, and swimming/water safety education. It is the closest international analogue to Wasserwacht in mission, volunteer model, and community-led fundraising structure.
• DLRG (Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft): DLRG is Germany's other principal volunteer water rescue organization, delivering swimming education, lifeguard training, and open-water rescue services. It is the most direct peer to Wasserwacht, operating in the same niche with a similar volunteer-driven model and even co-developing SUP safety rules with Wasserwacht.

Others

• International Lifesaving Federation: The ILS is the global umbrella body for national lifesaving and water rescue organizations, including DLRG and many equivalents of Wasserwacht. It is comparable as the standards-setting and coordinating entity for the peer set Wasserwacht belongs to.

Regional players

• Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM): SNSM is France's volunteer sea rescue organization, focused on maritime rescue and water safety education. It is comparable as a European national water rescue non-profit with a similar reliance on volunteer lifeguards and donations, though it is more maritime-focused than Wasserwacht.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/roteskreuz_de
• YouTubeyoutube.com/DRKonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/wasserwacht_de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wasserwacht-des-drk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wasserwacht des DRK