In France, accidental drownings account for approximately 1,000 deaths each year and are the leading cause of accidental death among people under the age of 25. Yet most of these drownings are preventable. The NOYADES surveys have been conducted since 2002 with the objectives of recording all drownings (accidental or otherwise, resulting in death or not) and describing the characteristics of the victims and certain circumstances surrounding the drownings for prevention purposes. The NOYADES survey is conducted via a questionnaire distributed to organized emergency services (fire departments, Samu-Smur, etc.) from June 1 to September 30 in mainland France and the overseas territories. A drowning is recorded if there is an intervention by organized emergency services followed by hospital care (visit to the emergency room, hospitalization) or death. In 2018, the NOYADES survey recorded 1,649 accidental drownings (84% of all drownings), with 25% of these being fatal. Accidental drownings increased by 30% compared to the 2015 survey (1,266). This increase is particularly evident among children under 13 (338 in 2015 vs. 600 in 2018). Accidental drownings resulting in death remained stable between the two surveys. In 2018, children under 6 accounted for 28% of accidental drownings and 9% of deaths, compared to 22% and 35%, respectively, among people aged 65 and older; 44% of accidental drownings occurred at sea, 31% in swimming pools of all types, 22% in rivers or bodies of water, and 4% in other locations (bathtubs, ponds, etc.), with fatal drownings accounting for 40%, 17%, 40%, and 3%, respectively. Accidental drownings occur in all locations and affect all age groups. The heatwave during the summer of 2018 is one of the factors that may explain the changes observed between the 2015 and 2018 surveys. The results of the NOYADES surveys, which have no international equivalent in terms of content and longevity, indicate the need to continue efforts to prevent drowning at all ages, particularly among the youngest children.