1758 drownings have been recorded since the beginning of June. This is twice as much as three years ago, according to the 2018 Noyades survey from Public Health France.
It is almost the end of the holidays, and with it comes the time to take stock. Public Health France published its survey on August 16 drownings 2018. Between June 1 and August 9, 1758 drownings were counted in France. Alarming observation: it is twice as much as three years ago, in 2015, over the same period. There were 858 of them. This year, 373 people died from drowning. Again, this is more than three years ago. The death rate has increased by 12%.
How to explain this?
According to the agency affiliated with the Ministry of Health, this increase in the number of drownings can be explained in two ways. First, by weather conditions which were much more favorable for swimming this summer. Then, by improving the drowning monitoring system. Because Public Health France identifies drownings followed by hospital treatment or death.
Seniors still the most concerned
Of these 1,758 drownings, 902 were listed as accidental, 84 as intentional (suicidal or criminal) and 772 of still undetermined origin, because investigations are underway. In the classification by age groups of people who died by accidental drowning, seniors (65 and over) are still at the top of the ranking. Out of 160, 58 lost their lives. The other age group at risk is made up of those under six. 235 children drowned accidentally. Twenty of them died. Finally, the majority of these deaths do not occur at sea but at the swimming pool, private or family.
Precautions to be taken
To avoid a tragedy, Public Health France recalls a few precautions to take. First at sea, find out about the surveillance and swimming conditions (color of the flag, waves, tides). Then, of course, watch the children assiduously. They can drown noiselessly in twenty centimeters of water! Advice also valid at the swimming pool. Finally, for adults, you have to pay attention to your physical form. Don’t overestimate yourself too much and go beyond his capacities… This is where there is danger.
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