Decryption. More than 1,200 drownings in France during the summer of 2024, including 350 fatalities: why water still kills

A toddler who gets a little too close to a swimming pool... Stress on the minds of all parents as summer approaches. Because "drowning is the leading cause of death from everyday accidents among those under 25," Yann Le Strat, scientific director of Public Health France, reminded us this Thursday during the presentation of the annual report on drownings occurring during the summer of 2024.

According to this, between June 1 and September 30, 2024, 1,244 drownings were recorded, including 350 deaths (28%). A stable level compared to 2023. But on closer inspection, the results show a 41% increase in drownings for the period from July 16 to August 15, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. "There is a probable link with repeated episodes of high heat, which made swimming very attractive," says Aymeric Ung, unit manager at the non-communicable diseases and injuries department of Public Health France. Indeed, Météo-France ranked last summer as the eighth hottest summer since 1900 .

Contrary to popular belief, children are not the primary victims of this scourge: those under six years old make up 29% of victims and adults 56%. And among drownings followed by death, 9 out of 10 involve adults. Aymeric Ung explains: "Child drownings are generally due to lapses in supervision and these situations are generally rectified fairly quickly." In adults, it is often illness or accidents that are the cause of tragedies .

Across all ages, approximately half of drowning deaths occur in rivers or bodies of water. "Swimming areas are almost never supervised, and in the event of an accident, help takes longer to arrive," explains Aymeric Ung. These accidents are often associated with alcohol consumption, particularly among young adults. Regarding other locations, the majority of drowning deaths occur at sea for adults, and in private pools for those under 18.

Unsurprisingly, France's most touristy regions, which are home to the majority of private swimming pools and a significant number of rivers and bodies of water, are the most affected. More than 60% of drownings and 53% of drownings resulting in death occur in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions.

This assessment is also an opportunity to reiterate safety guidelines: "You must have active and constant supervision of young children, teach them to swim as early as possible, postpone swimming if you are tired or have symptoms, and of course, favor supervised swimming areas," recommends Yann Le Strat. Regarding children swimming, "it is best to designate only one adult per child," adds Aymeric Ung. For the summer of 2025, the Ministries of Health and Sports will also distribute a campaign "You care about them, don't take your eyes off them!" in the form of posters and videos.

On the educational front, there are also several programs tailored to the children's age: baby swimming for children up to three years old, the water ease plan for children four to six years old, and learning to swim from six years old. For adults too, "it's never too late to learn to swim or relearn," insists Aymeric Ung. The latest survey by Santé publique France, dating back to 2017, indicated that 83.7% of 15-75 year-olds knew how to swim. For those who haven't learned, all municipal swimming pools offer adult lessons in a friendly environment. A great opportunity to take the plunge.