In France, drowning is a major public health issue, as it accounts for more than 500 accidental deaths each year and can sometimes result in serious long-term effects. The NOYADES 2012 survey was conducted between June and September 2012 by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS) and the Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management (DGSCGC) of the Ministry of the Interior. This survey identified all drowning victims, whether accidental or not, resulting in hospitalization or death. The objective was to describe the characteristics and risk factors of accidental drownings to contribute to their prevention. The 2012 NOYADES survey recorded 1,238 accidental drownings, 497 (40%) of which resulted in death, including: 14% were children under 6 years of age (170 drownings, including 28 deaths), and 43% were adults over 45 years of age (534, including 270 deaths). The demographic characteristics of the victims and the circumstances of the drowning depend on the location: 159 drownings occurred in private pools (51 deaths), 52 in public pools (8 deaths), 214 in rivers (139 deaths), 121 in lakes (60 deaths), 642 at sea (214 deaths), and 50 in other locations (25 deaths). In private pools, children under 6 drowned primarily due to a lack of adult supervision and their inability to swim. In rivers and lakes, drownings often occur after a fall, during solitary activities, or after alcohol consumption. At sea, the victims were often residents of the department where the drowning occurred, over 45 years of age, or individuals with health issues. These findings form the basis for specific prevention messages such as: ensuring close adult supervision of young children, learning to swim as early as possible, swimming in supervised areas, not overestimating one’s physical abilities, and checking sea and weather conditions. (R.A.)