Results that "highlight the need to continue prevention", warns Public Health France. Since the beginning of June, 253 fatal drownings have been recorded in France, according to a new update Friday from the health agency. "Over the period, the number of drownings followed by deaths in 2023 is generally stable compared to 2021 but down 24% compared to 2022," says the organization.
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From June 1 to August 20, the daily number of drownings followed by deaths changed little during the period, although peaks were observed on some days, especially on weekends when weather conditions were favorable for swimming over much of the country (such as Saturday, August 12), she adds.
Due to a "lack of feedback on emergency room visits for drowning in some regions of France", the total number of drownings since the beginning of the summer is not updated. In its previous report, on August 11, Public Health France had reported almost 600 drownings, nearly a third of them fatal, since the beginning of June.
Regional differences
Fatal drownings from June 1 to August 20 mainly involved adults of the order of 9 out of 10 drownings, says the agency. Dramas that took place more at sea. For minors, on the other hand, drowning deaths more often occur in private pools.
In 2023, for the period from June 1 to August 20, the distribution of places of death differed by region. The proportion of fatal drownings in swimming pools was higher in the coastal regions of south-east and south-west France (respectively 30 and 24%), which is explained by a higher number of swimming pools in these regions. The proportion of drownings at sea was higher in the north-western coastal regions and overseas territories (64% and 76% respectively) than in other regions.
About 1,000 deaths per year, 400 in the summer
"These results, particularly in the current context of extreme heat in a large part of France, highlight the need to continue prevention," observes Public Health France. In France, drownings are responsible for about 1,000 deaths each year, including about 400 in the summer.
Active and permanent supervision of young children, learning to swim as early as possible, choice of safe areas, vigilance in the face of the weather are among the recommendations. This prevention must be adapted according to ages, bathing places and regions (concerning the risk of baïnes for example).