Between July 16 and August 15, 576 drownings were recorded in France, an increase of 41% compared to the same period in 2023, undoubtedly due to favorable conditions for swimming, Public Health France indicated on Friday.
For these two fortnights, there were 146 drownings followed by deaths in 2024 compared to 109 in 2023 (+34%).
In July 2024, climatic conditions were generally favorable, especially in the southern half of the country, recalls Santé publique France.
At the end of July and the beginning of August 2024, two heat waves occurred one after the other, she adds.
This high heat has made "bathing conditions very favorable", which may explain the increase in drownings compared to the same period last year.
For the entire period, between June 1 and August 21, 2024, 983 drownings took place in France, including 268 resulting in deaths (i.e. a proportion of drownings resulting in deaths of 27%).
These figures are stable compared to those of 2023, specifies Santé publique France.
Since the start of the 2024 monitoring period, 52% of drownings have involved adults, 32% those under 6 years old, and 16% those aged 6-17.
The proportion of drownings followed by death is higher among adults (46% compared to 6% among children under 6, 9 drownings followed by death out of 10 involving adults).
Drowning deaths in rivers/bodies of water accounted for half of all drowning deaths regardless of age. For other locations, drowning deaths among minors occurred more in private swimming pools and among adults at sea (approximately a third of deaths for these two age categories).
"These results highlight the need to continue prevention of the risk of drowning at all ages, particularly during periods of high heat and as long as bathing conditions remain favourable," insists the health agency.
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