During the summer season, the French authorities constantly remind us of the dangerousness of the water. As a painful reminder that swimming pools and the ocean are not just a hobby, Public Health France has communicated on the number of deaths by drowning since June 1. 109 people lost their lives between that date and July 12. A total of 362 people drowned, a third of whom died. And contrary to popular belief, it is mostly adults who succumb to it.
Over this same period (early June to mid-July), the number of drownings fell by 9% compared to 2022 and by 19% compared to 2021, according to the health agency. As for the number of deaths, after a drowning, it was “generally stable” in 2023 compared to 2021. The drop in drownings over the six weeks is attributable only to the June period, adds SpF. In this month alone, the number of drownings fell by 28% in June 2023 compared to June 2021, specifies the agency, which highlights the comparison between these two years.
Fewer but more fatal drownings
As for the number of deaths, after a drowning, it was “generally stable” in 2023 compared to 2021, and 9 out of 10 of the deceased were adults (while for drownings in general, 50% of those affected are children). Decline in the number of drownings and stability in the number of deaths therefore mean that the proportion of drownings followed by death has increased. Drownings are fewer but more fatal, underlines the health agency.
In June 2023, despite a thermal surplus in France of +2.5°C (i.e. the second hottest month of June since 1946, behind 2003), the climatic conditions (temperatures, rainfall and sunshine) were generally less favorable for swimming in the southern half of France, an area where drownings are usually the most numerous, notes SpF. In addition, in 2021, the context of the lifting of the restrictive measures deployed for the management of the Covid-19 epidemic associated with climatic conditions favorable to swimming may have explained part of the large number of drownings during this period, continues the health agency.