With the arrival of fine weather, the beaches are filling up and there are more and more swimmers.
However, lifeguards recommend extra caution in the face of the dangers of the sea.
To read alsoFall in the mountains, drowning … The advice of the gendarmerie to young people to avoid tragedies this summer
According to Public Health France, 1119 drownings occurred between June 1 and August 31, 2021. Baths, cramps, hypothermia, the causes can be numerous and sometimes fatal.
To better deal with this type of situation, Gwen Lefranc, in charge of lifeguard swimmer training at the SNSM (National Society for Sea Rescue), gives
Le Figaro
the behavior to adopt if you feel in difficulty while swimming.
The different scenarios
In most situations, the key is to try to calm down and stay on the surface, either vertically using your arms (which costs energy, however) or doing a plank on your back.
That way, you'll have a better chance of getting someone's attention or going to the beach alone.
sea currents
The baïnes are very present in the South-West.
It is a drop, a hole that forms in the sand.
The waves engulf it, fill it with water, then it empties, causing strong currents in which it is possible to feel trapped.
Here, Gwen Lefranc explains that it is important to stop struggling, let yourself be carried away by the current by staying well on the surface, even if the movement does not seem natural.
Further, you can swim back, if you feel able, or wave for help.
Sometimes, baïnes can take place over 1.5km.
Without panicking, continue to drift calmly.
On the coast of the English Channel and in Brittany, a similar phenomenon called "
Bâche
" occurs frequently, the same instructions are applied there.
The cramps
As with all physical activities, a cramp can occur when swimming.
The first reflex to adopt, here too, is not to panic, the pain is surprising but it should not last.
Stay on the surface, and try to stretch to get it through faster.
Waves
In most situations, waves are good news.
Although they may impress with their size, they come close to the edge.
"
No danger, keep calm, it's just a bad time to pass
" concludes Gwen Lefranc, advocating to get carried away and remember to breathe well between the waves.
However, if there are rollers and the water level is quite low, it is important to curl up and protect your head to avoid bumping into the ground.
Read also“Swimming not recommended” this weekend in Gironde and Charente-Maritime
The waves can also carry you towards dangerous surroundings, for example rocks or a cliff.
In the first case, it is possible to get carried away and try to climb on the rocks.
You can then walk to the beach or call for help.
In the second situation, facing a vertical cliff or a dike, don't panic: it is very rare that the wave carries you against the object, it is especially likely to push you back offshore.
Hypothermia
It is possible to feel the symptoms of hypothermia, if you have been in cold water for about an hour and a half.
One of the clues?
After feeling cold you suddenly feel nothing.
At this point, stop swimming and quickly return to the beach.
The right things to do in any situation
If there are several of you, stay in a group, you will be more visible from the shore.
But if you're not a good swimmer, don't stay too close to the person in difficulty who could cling to you and cause both of you to drown.
In this situation, the best thing to do is to call for help and try to calm the person in danger, while explaining the instructions above to get out of the situation as quickly as possible.
Grab a floating object if there is one nearby.
If you choose to swim, do the crawl, which is more efficient and less exhausting than the breaststroke where it is easy to drink the cup.
Aim for the waves to get home faster.
If help arrives, do the plank, save your energy and wait.
