2023 Drowning Report: Less Frequent but More Often Fatal

 

The general report announces a decrease in rescue interventions during this year 2023 but an increase in mortality.

Indeed, the figures suggest an improvement but in reality the problem is worsening. 

500 child drownings every summer

In France, accidental drownings are responsible each year for approximately 1000 deaths, half of which occur during the summer. 500 children are victims, of which 10% die. Children under 6 years old account for a quarter of accidental drownings. Most of these accidents occur in private family pools. Learning to swim from an early age is essential to prevent these tragedies. Discover the key steps of the swimming learning cycle.

As of June 2023, 84 drownings followed by deaths were reported. A stable number compared to previous years but they were more often fatal.

These serious results show the necessity to relentlessly continue prevention on the risk of drownings in private swimming.

Every year, the first summer report on drownings is published on the last school day so that a maximum of information and prevention advice is disseminated at the time of family vacation departures.

Most accidental drownings can be avoided with simple prevention measures, and/or adequate equipment.

 

Mostly avoidable drownings

The authorities explain that these dramatic accidents can happen to anyone and that most of these drownings are avoidable. That is why it is important to emphasize the importance of constant and close supervision of children during swimming. 

Simple actions to adopt: 

• Familiarize children with water comfort as early as possible and their learn to swim as soon as possible
• Watch the children constantly , always stay close to them when they play at the water's edge and swim with them when they are in the water
• Be very vigilant when swimming in above-ground pools (not buried) that cannot be secured
• Have children wear a safety device such as the Floating swimsuit Plouf.

 

« It only takes a few seconds for a child to drown. No safety device replaces your vigilance. You care about them, don't take your eyes off them » concludes the government. 

 

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The life-saving gestures

Several gestures to know ensure the safety of victims in case of drowning.

•  Remove the victim from the water to help them regain consciousness.

• Do not put yourself in danger to avoid worsening the situation

• Call for help : firefighters (18), EMS (15) or the European emergency call number (112). 
• Practice first aid gestures if you know them : lay the victim in the recovery position (P.L.S) and talk to them. Check their breathing and consciousness. If they do not seem to breathe properly or do not respond, perform CPR or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Get trained, lives are at stake.

 

To avoid the worst

At the end of July, a six-year-old child was found unconscious in the swimming pool of a campsite, late in the afternoon. The campsite's team of lifeguards quickly performed first aid gestures before the arrival of the firefighters. In a serious condition, he was airlifted to the hospital in Perpignan. He died shortly after his arrival. Four lifeguards were working permanently to monitor this area but their vigilance was not enough.

In Lacanau, a mother died during a family swim at the seaside while trying to save her child from drowning. The rescuers managed to recover and save the child, but the mother did not survive. Here again, the multiple vigilance was not enough to prevent the tragedy.

Equipping children helps prevent these serious and fatal accidents. Regarding vigilance against child drownings, no precaution is dispensable because they are all mandatory.

 

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