Swimming in the Lake - Not happening at this stage
OUTCOME - No swimming in either Lake
Until a strong realizer shows up (and there would be a directed ticket for them if they want it), who is qualified and can organize enough qualified lifeguards to monitor the southern lake, it is in the interest of the affected parties (which is currently the legal body responsible if someone drowns at the event) to take the rational and cautious choice of simply enforcing a "No-swimming in any lake policy"
This means that in order to cool down, you will have to be really self-reliant. Remember there's no lake on the real Playa, just sand and alkalized salt, so I think we'll survive the German summer heat. It looks like we will have showers though. Bring a spray bottle and a handheld fan just in case.
There are 2 lakes at Freiland, and at this stage, technically we can't swim in either.
Lake 1 is on the west bank, and is completely forbidden to swim in as it is a recovering natural pond and the wildlife get's severely disturbed and damaged by 1000 sun-screened hippies taking a dip to cool their boots.
We still intend to protect the nature of this lake at the costs of being hot, and this remains non-negotiable.
The southern lake (by the Pirate Kiez) we have permission from the Gelande to swim in, so long as we take adequate precautions (washing sunscreen off beforehand etc).
However - Legally we must ban anyone from swimming in the lake and enforce this ban, as any body of water requires a qualified and designated lifeguard on shift at all times.
Freiland simply enforce the no-swimming ban, but I think the participants of Kiez Burn can do one better.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This whole situation is currently outside of the entire Covid safety protocol discussions, and it may be that the Gesundheitsamt or local Amt decide that the lake is a high risk zone and should be banned anyway. We will find out later in the negotiations.
If someone steps up to being a Lake Realizer, and we can gather enough volunteer lifeguards to watch the lake, Kiez Burn could have a legally swimmable location!
As a board member and Treasurer, I am currently wrapping my head around the legal responsibilities of hosting an event in a Pandemic without putting the verein/board into debt. I would very much like this issue to not be weighing over my shoulders, and for all of you who might think "Bah humbug! Trust in radical Self-reliance! The hippies can take care of themselves":
There have been accidents in this very lake in past events. And the government and bereaved nearly always want someone to blame for the suffering.
So please don't moan, and propose a solution. Because when they blame, they won't be blaming your radically-not-responsible ass!
#1 - Proposal
Someone steps up as Lake Realizer (a.k.a Neptune/Merperson/Poiseidon), who would coordinate this proposal.
We fill shifts having qualified lifeguards within specific times of the day (most likely daylight hours), stationed at the Southern lake (by the Pirates)
Adequate signage and safety materials are supplied
We can cool off on the hot august days!
#2 - The current legal alternative
We have to create an official swimming ban on the lake
Rangers would need to be briefed to enforce this
I recognize I am proposing a role for which I cannot fill, but as I stated above, I have some legal responsibility to the event and the safety of the participants, and I am currently wrapped up in financial as well as other board/korg/camp duties and cannot drive this. By default I have to go with #2, but I think the participants of Kiez Burn should be given the opportunity for #1. Whoever can, will just have to step up if that's the case.
BOARD STATEMENT - Legal Body Representing the Verein Kiez Burn
Concerning the usage of the lake: we can't keep 950 substantized participants safe for the entirety of the event, nor can we protect the lake from 950 sun-screened participants.
Kiez burn more outsources visit all Amt-required safety services, Feuerwehr, First aid, security. This will now also include lifeguards. It is unfair on everyone involved to place the life of another human being in volunteers' hands. Our philosophy cannot stretch that far at this stage.
We can however at least create a safe space for one artist to fulfill a dream of performing in the lake, safely watched, by both the participants and the undisturbed wildlife.
Diarmaid Mon 21 Jun 2021 11:03AM
I like the halfway proposal - if we can fence off so that the water doesn't go above neck height, it becomes much less dangerous. It would provide a clear demarcation between where was allowed to swim and where was not, making the jobs of rangers much easier. It would remove the danger of stepping on broken glass, because the water is very clear and we could sweep the area to ensure that it was clean.
We would need to provide showers beside it so that people can wash off first, and clearly sign that this is required.
Purzel Mon 21 Jun 2021 1:59PM
Thank you Alex for your proposal I had a similiar idea and you beat me to it (less work for me;) )
From a First Aid Point of view I dont see concerns as long as we have certified Life Guards on duty. I made the training years ago and am not certified anymore but I would like to add that they might need materials to get people who require help out of the water, such as Boards or rescue rings.
For any structure beeing build on the beach, please keep in mind that the Fire Dpeartment need to access the water with a firetruck at all times.
@Natron Deo pitched the idea to hire local professionals, they are usually rather young and don´t cost much. Given all the lockdowns they might be hungry for the work but it would put another dent in our budget and we end up with more non-hippies on site.
On a personal note, I dont look forward to the job of trying to keep people out of the lake but the potential impact on the ecosystem worries me, given all the glitter, make up, body paint, skin cells, Sunscreen of 950 hippies for 5 days.
If we end up banning the lake for swimming (which is the more likely scenario imho) we should consider other means for us to cool down, like mist showers or something. I´ll talk to the FD wether they are able to come with a firetruck and cool us down with a nice rain out of their hoses, I've been to many festivals where they did that and it was always a highlight for people.
Veroca R. Sala Mon 21 Jun 2021 2:48PM
interesting bee😎, however still will mean a lot of work around it + having as Purzel says: more non-hippies around in order to have qualified guards. These cannot be simple volunteers from the crowd.
I would like it if we plan this better for next year with bathing times in the afternoon for the hottest hours.
There is a lot at risk here... I mean, this is not an event risk, but life of participants.
I still vote for No, unless we can come to an agreement to only use the shore.
Lets say 5 meters from the edge or something like that. @Purzel what distance from the shore would be safe?
Even at the shore, the pirates will make sure people are rinsed before going in? creams and stuff?
Diarmaid Mon 21 Jun 2021 3:47PM
We would have to build a fence, from the water island to the shore if Water Island gets funded and the pirates agree, otherwise just corralling in the area
Diarmaid Mon 21 Jun 2021 3:49PM
We could also say that a preformed is allowed only if they are able to provide a qualified life guard
Veroca R. Sala Mon 21 Jun 2021 4:11PM
sounds good...I wonder who will afford that fence? Who will do the fence? general build? the pirates themselves? who who who? Lol...
Veroca R. Sala Mon 21 Jun 2021 5:06PM
i see you address here @Diarmaid yo say, "We could sweep the area" or "We fence off", its unclear who is these "we"... the dream guides? cause if there isn't a name responsible for things to happen, from experience, these will not happen...
Nora Flora Mon 21 Jun 2021 8:06PM
If we need to say there's absolutely no swimming/touching the lake, these proposals sound good. 👍
Nora Flora Mon 21 Jun 2021 8:15PM
Firetruck!
CJ Yetman · Mon 21 Jun 2021 10:15AM
I'd feel safest if the lake was clearly defined and marked as off limits.