Headlines - Drowning - The Dangers of Summer

Nice weather and high temperatures encourage swimming. However, swimming is not without risk, as shown by the NOYADES survey conducted by the InVS between June 1 and September 20, 2012, during which 1,238 accidental drownings were recorded, resulting in 497 deaths—28 among children under 6, 47 among those aged 6 to 19, and 145 among those over 65. The objectives of this survey were to describe the characteristics and risk factors of accidental drowning and to guide prevention and regulatory actions. Most accidents involving children are due to a lack of supervision, a safety device failure, or a fall. For adults, accidents occur mainly as a result of fainting, carelessness, or simply not knowing how to swim well. According to the latest figures from the Health Barometer of the National Institute for Prevention and Health Education (INPES) in 2010, 54% of women and 27% of men aged 65 to 74 cannot swim. On average, across all age groups, one in five French people cannot swim: 28% of women and 14% of men. In terms of prevention, it is important to remember that people can learn to swim at any age and that children must always be supervised. Children can drown in less than three minutes in just twenty centimeters of water. Finally, adults should not overestimate their swimming ability.