For Public Health France, the figures published on Friday “underline the need to continue the prevention of the risk of drowning”. Between June 1 and August 20, 253 drowning deaths were recorded in France. An earlier report, covering a period up to August 2, reported 177 drowning deaths.
This figure is “generally stable” compared to the same period in 2021, during which 232 drowning deaths were recorded. On the other hand, it is lower (-24%) compared to the 335 drownings resulting in death registered in 2022.
Deaths mainly affect adults
Public Health France also specifies that the figures for the first twenty days of August tend to increase compared to 2021 due to a “favorable climate context for swimming in a large part of the country (such as Saturday, August 12, 2023)”.
These fatal drownings mainly affected adults (89%), while 5% of them affected children under 6 years of age.
As Public Health France observes, the proportion of deaths due to drowning in swimming pools was higher in the coastal regions of south-east (30%) and south-west France (24%), a particularity that is explained by the greater number of swimming pools in these areas. regions.
The total number of drownings has not yet been updated.
In contrast, the proportion of drownings at sea was higher in the northwestern coastal regions and in Overseas (64 and 76% respectively). In addition, of the 253 fatal drownings, a fortnight were related to an activity other than swimming, such as fishing, snorkeling or stand-up paddle boarding.
Public Health France, by contrast, has not provided an updated report on the total number of drownings since the beginning of the summer due to a “lack of information on emergency visits in certain regions of France.” The report published on August 11 indicated 598 drownings between the beginning of June and the beginning of August.
The public establishment reminds that swimming involves risks regardless of age. He again recommends respecting the prohibitions on bathing, finding out about weather conditions and teaching children to swim as soon as possible. But “it is never too late to start learning to swim”, concludes Public Health France.
Source: BFM TV
