Health. The summer of 2024 saw a sharp increase in drownings.

Between June ¹ and September 30, 2024, 1,244 drownings were recorded, including 350 deaths. The level is stable over the period compared to 2023, but Public Health France, which presented this report on Thursday, May 22, points to a 41% increase over the period from July 16 to August 15.

According to this 2024 report, adults represent 56% of drowning victims, and those under 6 years old, 29%. Regarding drownings followed by death, 9 out of 10 involve adults. "Across all ages, approximately half of drowning deaths occur in rivers or bodies of water. For other locations, the majority of drowning deaths among adults occur at sea, while drownings followed by death among those under 18 mainly occur in private swimming pools," explains Public Health France. The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions are those where drownings are most numerous.

How can we explain the increase in drownings during heatwaves?

According to Public Health France, this sharp rise in drownings, from mid-July to mid-August, is "probably linked to repeated episodes of intense heat, making swimming very attractive." Overcrowded pools that are difficult to monitor, increased swimming due to the heat, fatigue linked to longer swimming periods... According to Public Health France, the risk of drowning is multiplied by three during a heatwave.

Another cause is hydrocution . When it is hot, the human body will dilate the blood vessels located under the skin, in order to evacuate some of this body heat. At the same time, the heart rate also increases in order to accelerate this cooling. Exposed to a much colder temperature (such as entering the sea in summer, especially during heat peaks) the body will block this mechanism to preserve its temperature and suddenly contract the blood vessels on the surface of the skin. "This increase in blood pressure causes the heart to slow down and the flow of blood to the brain to decrease, which can cause vagal discomfort, or even cardiac arrest," notes the Sea Rescue website. Alcohol and its vasodilatory effect also increases the risk of hydrocution.

Swimming involves risks, simple actions can be taken to bathe safely.

What are the right actions?

For children:

• actively and continuously monitor young children;
• never take your eyes off young children when they are playing at the water's edge;
• bathing with young children while they are in the water;
• designate only one adult per child for supervision during swimming;
• teach them to swim as early as possible.

For adults:

• respect safety instructions and swimming bans;
• favor supervised swimming areas, secured by professional lifeguards
• inquire about weather conditions;
• postpone swimming in case of physical discomfort (fatigue, health problems, chills, etc.)
• avoid any alcohol consumption before swimming;
• notify a loved one before swimming;
• enter the water gradually, wetting your head, neck and stomach to avoid thermal shock, particularly when the temperature difference between the water and the air is significant.

For the elderly:

• adapt the intensity and distance of swimming to your abilities: take into account your fitness level and do not overestimate your swimming level;
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice, especially if you have a chronic illness or are taking medication.