NOYADES 2021 Survey

Santé publique France is conducting the 2021 NOYADES survey, which aims to identify all drowning incidents handled by an organized emergency response service and resulting in either hospitalization or death.

Drowning

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Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among people under 25 in France, but it also affects other age groups.

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NOYADES Survey – 2021 Edition

The NOYADES Survey

Santé publique France, with the support of the Ministry of Solidarity and Health, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Sports, and the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, is conducting the 2021 NOYADES survey.

The survey will cover all drowning incidents that occurred between June 1 and September 30, 2021, in metropolitan France and the overseas territories.

All drowning incidents attended by an organized emergency service (SDIS/fire department, SAMU-SMUR, lifeguards, police/gendarmerie, etc.) at the scene of the drowning AND followed by hospital care (visit to the emergency department or hospitalization) or death are included in the survey.

Survey Objectives

The objective is to identify all drowning incidents handled by an organized emergency response service and followed by hospital care (visit to the emergency department or hospitalization) or death. The aim is to collect and analyze all drowning incidents occurring in France, regardless of intent—whether accidental, suicidal, criminal, or undetermined—with the goal of guiding prevention and regulatory efforts: to count the number of drowning victims in all locations, describe the characteristics of the victims and their outcomes, and provide information on the circumstances surrounding these drowning incidents.

Collaboration required for the survey

To conduct this survey, Santé publique France is seeking the collaboration of organized emergency services that respond to drowning victims, in particular:

  • the Departmental Fire and Rescue Services (SDIS), the Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP), the Marseille Marine Fire Brigade (BMPM), the Metropolitan Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (SDMIS), the Territorial Fire and Rescue Services (STIS), and the Fire and Rescue Services (SIS);

  • The SAMU-SMUR;

  • The National Society for Sea Rescue (SNSM) and the Regional Operational Centers for Surveillance and Rescue (CROSS);

  • Police and Gendarmerie services;

  • General and pediatric emergency departments, adult and pediatric intensive care units, and other departments in hospitals and clinics.

Survey Procedure and Reporting of Drowning Cases

Santé publique France has entrusted data collection to the company Ipsos.

A questionnaire must be completed on the day of the drowning by the response team attending to the drowning victim and returned without delay (or within three days at the latest). If there is any doubt as to whether a drowning has already been reported by other responders, it is recommended that the questionnaire be completed again. Duplicate reports will be identified by the investigation team.

All drownings must be reported, regardless of intent: accidental, suicidal, criminal, or undetermined. If an accident or death appears to result from multiple causes (e.g., fainting followed by drowning, or vice versa), a questionnaire must be completed, providing as detailed a description as possible of the circumstances of the accident or death.

This survey has been authorized by the CNIL. Whenever possible, emergency responders should inform the victim or their family that a survey is being conducted to document drowning incidents and improve prevention efforts. An informational note may be distributed to those involved to help convey this information.

The NOYADES 2021 Survey

The questionnaire can be completed:

  • Directly online at: www.enquete-noyades-2021.fr. The login ID and password have been sent by mail to the organized emergency services that respond to drowning victims.

  • In paper format and mailed to Ipsos: Ipsos - NOYADES 2021 Survey - 35 rue du Val de Marne - 75013 PARIS

DOWNLOAD THE 2021 DROWNING SURVEY

Useful documents related to the investigation

Contacts

For further information about the survey, please contact Ipsos first:
Ulrich Kaczor and Katleen Affari, +33 1 71 25 21 00, noyades2021@ipsos-direct.fr

Contacts at Santé publique France:
Aymeric Ung, 01 41 79 57 33, aymeric.ung@santepubliquefrance.fr
Arnaud Gautier, 01 71 80 16 42, arnaud.gautier@santepubliquefrance.fr
Nathalie Beltzer, 01 55 12 53 02, nathalie.beltzer@santepubliquefrance.fr

Results of previous surveys

Santé publique France, with support from the Ministry of Solidarity and Health, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Sports, and the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, is conducting the NOYADES 2018 survey, which aims to record all drownings or near-drownings followed by hospital care (visits to emergency departments or hospitalization) or death. The NOYADES 2018 survey will cover all drownings or near-drownings that occurred between June 1 and September 30, 2018, in France (metropolitan France and overseas territories).

Download the 2018 Drowning
Survey questionnaire Download the 2018 Drowning Survey
poster Download the CNIL information sheet for the 2018 Drowning Survey

Final results:

Interim results:

The 2015 Drowning Survey is organized by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance with support from the Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management of the Ministry of the Interior, the Directorate for Housing, Urban Planning, and Landscapes of the Ministry of Housing, and the Directorate of Sports of the Ministry of Sports. It runs from June 1 to September 30, 2015.
Its objective is to collect and analyze data on drownings that occurred in France during the summer months of 2015, in order to guide prevention and regulatory efforts: to count the number of drowning victims in all locations, describe the characteristics of the victims and their outcomes, and provide information on the circumstances surrounding these drownings.

For all drownings or near-drownings treated by emergency services and followed by hospitalization or death, in all departments between June 1 and September 30, 2015, a questionnaire will be completed.

Download the 2015 Drowning Survey Questionnaire

Download the 2015 Drowning Survey information poster

Final results

Interim results

The 2012 Drowning Survey was organized by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance in collaboration with the Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management of the Ministry of the Interior. It took place from June 1 to September 30, 2012.
Its objective was to collect and analyze data on drownings that occurred in France during the summer months of 2012, in order to guide prevention and regulatory efforts: to count the number of drowning victims in all locations, describe the characteristics of the victims and their outcomes, and provide information on the circumstances surrounding these drownings.

For all drowning or near-drowning incidents attended by emergency services and resulting in hospitalization or death, in all departments between June 1 and September 30, 2012, a questionnaire had to be completed.

Final Results

Preliminary results

The 2009 Drowning Survey is organized by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance in collaboration with the Civil Protection Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior, Overseas France, Local Authorities, and Regional Planning. It runs from June 1 to September 30, 2009.

Its objective is to collect and analyze data on drownings that occurred in France during the summer months of 2009, in order to guide prevention and regulatory efforts: to count the number of drowning victims in all locations, describe the characteristics of the victims and their outcomes, and provide information on the circumstances surrounding these drownings.

For all drownings or near-drownings attended to by emergency services and followed by hospitalization or death, in all departments between June 1 and September 30, 2009, a questionnaire must be completed.

Final results of the 2009 drowning survey (June 1 to September 30, 2009)

Epidemiological Surveillance of Drownings - 2009 Drowning Survey, June 1–September 30, 2009. Final Report and Summary.

Interim results of the 2009 drowning survey

Questionnaire

The 2006 Drowning Survey is organized by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance and the Directorate of Civil Defense and Security of the Ministry of the Interior and Regional Development. It runs from June 1 to September 30, 2006.

Its objective is to collect and analyze data on drownings that occurred in France during the summer months of 2006, in order to guide prevention and regulatory efforts: to count the number of drowning victims in all locations, describe the characteristics of the victims and their outcomes, and provide information on the circumstances surrounding these drownings.

For all drowning or near-drowning incidents attended to by emergency services and resulting in hospitalization or death, a questionnaire must be completed.

Final results of the 2006 drowning survey (June 1 to September 30, 2006)

Interim results of the 2006 drowning survey (June 1 to September 30, 2006)

Communications

Investigation protocol

Questionnaire

The NOYADES 2002 survey, conducted between June and September 2002, provided comprehensive data on the number of drowning incidents, their characteristics, the outcomes for the victims, and the circumstances surrounding them.
It appears necessary to continue this data collection for the year 2003 to ensure epidemiological surveillance of the most serious drowning incidents, that is, those that resulted in hospitalization or were followed by death.

The NOYADES 2003 survey is organized by the Institute for Health Surveillance (InVS) and the Directorate of Civil Defense and Security of the Ministry of the Interior, Internal Security, and Local Freedoms.

In France, drowning incidents—whether or not they result in death—constitute a significant public health problem, as they account for more than 500 deaths each year and sometimes lead to serious long-term consequences.

The "NOYADES 2002" survey was conducted during the summer of 2002 by the Institute for Health Surveillance and the Ministry of the Interior, Internal Security, and Local Freedoms. It is the first national French survey covering all drownings that occurred in swimming pools, rivers, lakes, and the sea.

It made it possible to determine the number of drowning victims requiring organized rescue services, broken down by location. Demographic characteristics, the fate of the victims, and the circumstances surrounding these drownings were also analyzed.

This survey identified 315 intentional drownings (suicide or attempted suicide) or cases of unknown origin, half of which resulted in death.
The study of accidental drownings was the primary objective of this survey. We recorded 2,826 accidental drownings, of which 252 (8.9%) resulted in death.

Forty-nine percent of accidental drownings occurred among individuals aged 6–24, and two out of three drowning victims were male.
The distribution by drowning location was as follows: 121 drownings in private pools (25 of which resulted in death), 53 in public or private pay-to-enter pools (11 deaths), 128 in rivers (75 deaths), 96 in lakes or ponds (42 deaths), 2,388 in the sea (including 87 deaths), and 37 drownings in other locations, such as bathtubs (including 11 deaths).

Seventy-five percent of drownings at sea did not result in hospitalization or death thanks to the intervention of lifeguards and rescue personnel on the beaches.

The demographic characteristics of the victims and the circumstances of the drownings varied significantly depending on the location.
Sixty-two percent of drownings in private pools and 73% of drownings in other locations, such as bathtubs, involved children under the age of 6, due to a lack of supervision (in 53% of cases).
In public or private pay-to-enter pools, 56% of drowning victims were children or adolescents (ages 6–19), for whom the most common circumstances were not knowing how to swim and risky behavior.
In rivers, 61% of drownings occurred among adults (ages 25–64), with more than one-third of these linked to alcohol consumption.
In lakes, 43% of those who drowned were adults (ages 25–64) for whom a health issue (fainting, epileptic seizure) was the cause.
At sea, 50% of drownings resulting in hospitalization or death occurred among adults over 45 years of age, with the most common circumstances being a health issue, strong currents, or swimming in restricted areas.

This survey provides epidemiological information that may be useful to all stakeholders involved in the prevention and management of drowning incidents.

Drowning accounts for nearly 600 deaths each year in France. "Near-drownings"—similar incidents that do not result in death—can sometimes lead to very serious long-term consequences.

The NOYADES 2001 survey was conducted in France between June 1 and September 30, 2001, with the primary objective of improving epidemiological understanding of drowning and thereby contributing to its prevention.

On a voluntary basis, data were collected in 28 departments, which made it possible to document 433 drownings in the broadest sense, meaning whether or not they resulted in death (drownings or near-drownings):
44 "intentional" drownings (suicides and suicide attempts, assaults), half of which resulted in death
389 "unintentional" (or accidental) drownings, more than a third of which resulted in death

This survey highlights the wide variety of drowning incidents, particularly in terms of location (swimming pools, the sea, rivers, lakes, etc.), the circumstances in which they occurred, and the characteristics of the victims.