Key Points

• For the period from June 1 to September 1, 2020, there were 12% fewer emergency room visits for drowning compared to the same period in 2018 and 2019.

• However, this decline was not observed in all regions, with five regions showing levels equivalent to those of 2018 and 2019: Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Corsica, Hauts-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, and Pays-de-la-Loire.

• It is not uniform across the entire period, with a 5% increase in August compared to the same periods in 2018 and 2019.

• During the heatwave from August 6 to 13, 2020, the increase in emergency room visits for drowning was 22% compared to the same period in 2018 and 2019.

• Coastal regions remain the hardest hit.

• Children under the age of 6 and people over the age of 65 are the most affected, accounting for 43% and 13% of emergency room visits for drowning in France, respectively.

• The decline observed in 2020 can be explained by a decrease in swimming activity due to restrictions related to the management of the COVID-19 crisis and generally less favorable weather conditions.