How artificial intelligence helps lifeguards in indoor swimming pools

The municipal swimming pools in Hamburg are installing an AI system across the board to detect drownings at an early stage. By the end of 2027, all 20 public indoor swimming pools in the Hanseatic city should be equipped with this, as the operator Bäderland announced.

Cameras monitor the swimming pool and artificial intelligence detects conspicuous movement patterns. The AI ​​immediately warns the lifeguards via smartwatch with the exact location in the pool. The number of supervisory staff will remain unchanged from the introduction of the system. The responsibility remains with people, emphasizes Bäderland.

"The most important point for us in the pools is the issue of time. We have very, very little time before we can recognize that a critical situation can happen in the pools. This is an incredibly responsible task for our colleagues," said Susan Zetzmann, Bäderland managing director. The AI ​​is a safety anchor for the staff and is only used to provide support. The plans were presented in the Alster swimming pool.

According to the municipal pool operator, Hamburg is the first major German city to use the technology comprehensively. Bäderland says it is investing around three million euros. The technology has been tested since the end of 2024 in the Billebad in Bergedorf with nine cameras in two pools. According to the pool operator, a further 256 cameras are now to be installed in a total of 48 swimming pools.

The Alster swimming pool will be the first to receive the system, Zetzmann announced. The remaining pools will follow by the end of 2027.

Cameras on the ceiling monitor the pools and the area approximately half a meter around the pools. Falls into the pool can also be recorded.

An AI then analyzes the bathers' movements in the water. The AI ​​recognizes when a guest remains with their head under water, stops moving or moves atypically. In this case, the bathing staff will be notified on a smartwatch, said Florian Grojer, project manager at the Israeli AI software company Lynxight.

In 2023 there was a fatal accident in the Bondenwald swimming pool. During a swimming course, a five-year-old fell underwater and suffered a fatal lack of oxygen. The Hamburg district court sentenced a swimming instructor to a suspended prison sentence of ten months.

The girl's death was crucial for the expansion of the system. Bäderland boss Zetzmann: "That affected us deeply. It affected the employees deeply. Since then, there has also been a great deal of fear about the job." The employees are now very happy that they have a bodyguard at their side. Environment Senator Katharina Fegebank (Greens) appealed to parents and accompanying persons to pay close attention to the children in the swimming pool despite the assistant.

The system was developed by the Israeli company Lynxight. The company explains that the images are processed directly in the swimming pool on its own server and are deleted after 15 seconds. There is no permanent connection to the Internet and no storage in a cloud. The data is processed on site in the swimming pool.