While many French people are heading off on holiday or going to enjoy swimming pools near their homes, Public Health France is warning of the risk of drowning. Incidents that still cause too many deaths each year.
Children under surveillance
In a statement broadcast on July 12, 2024, Santé Publique France imperatively invites adults to supervise children. They must not be taken out of sight when they play at the water's edge. And it is necessary to bathe directly with them when they are in it.
In addition, the agency stresses the importance of introducing children to aquatic environments with devices such as "baby swimmers" (up to three years old), "water ease" (from four to six years old) and teaching them to swim as early as possible, i.e. from the age of six.
For adults, avoid alcohol consumption
Children are not the only ones affected by drowning. Adults can, of course, be affected too. As far as they are concerned, it is absolutely essential that they respect the swimming bans and that they prefer supervised and secure swimming areas. And the ideal is to warn a relative of their entry into the water.
For adults, one of the main precautions to take is to avoid alcohol before swimming. You should also not insist on entering the water if you are tired or have health problems. When swimming, one of the main risks is thermal shock. It is therefore preferable to enter the water gradually, first wetting your head, neck and stomach.
Furthermore, iIt is also highly recommended to learn to swim, even as an adult.
Read alsoSwimming and greenhouse gas emissions in the Seine: what the research says
In case of fragility, do not overestimate yourself
As for those who are resuming physical activity, Santé Publique France encourages them to watch their physical condition and not to swim if physical problems appear, such as fatigue, aches, chills or other signs of health problems.
They are also advised to judge their abilities carefully, to swim short distances in order to be able to return without any problems. Furthermore, it should be noted that swimming in the pool is less tiring than swimming in natural aquatic environments. Finally, the agency encourages people who wish to do so to ask their doctor for assistance in returning to swimming.
English 
French