A summer marked by alarming figures
The latest evaluation of public health in France sounds alarm: between 1 June and 23 July 2025, 702 drownings were identified in France, including 193 mortals. Compared to the same period of 2024, this represents a 50 % increase in accidents and 45 % of deaths.
This spectacular increase is widely explained by exceptional time in the early summer. June 2025 was the second month of the hottest June ever recorded since 1900, promoting a huge influx to beaches, swimming pools and water bodies. Between June 19 and July 6, a period of heat wave, the number of drownings exploded: 315 cases against only 130 last year.
Particularly vulnerable young people
If all age groups are interested, the increase is particularly marked in children and adolescents. Twenty -seven minors have lost their lives since the beginning of summer, against fifteen at the same period of 2024. 13-17 year old children seem to be the most fragile : Almost a third of the anneal in this age group was fatal, against only 13 % of the previous year.
Rivers, often not monitored and poorly known to bathersThey have become the scene of recurrent dramas. More than half of the death of children and teenagers (56 %) was identified in 2025, when they represented only a quarter of the fatal drownings in 2024.
Regional disparities
It is not surprising that the most tourist regions concentrate the most accidents. Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Uccitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitana alone almost two thirds of drowning in the summer. These territories combine several risk factors: a very popular maritime facade, a large number of private swimming pools and many rivers.
The foreign departments also paid a heavy price, especially in Guyana and Mayotte, where two boats of boats caused multiple deaths.
Prevent it from saving human lives
Faced with these figures, the lifeguards and health authorities remember that most of the dramas could be avoided.
The recommendations are clear:
- Actively monitor children And never leave them alone at the edge of the water.
- Promote monitored areasespecially in the sea and in the river.
- Avoid alcohol Before swimming, aggravating factor of many accidents.
- Learn to swim earlyFrom an early age, to familiarize children in the aquatic environment.
We must also remember everyone Gradually insert the water to limit the risk of discomfort connected to the temperature differences.
A public health emergency
The rebirth of the analysis in 2025 highlights an important public health problem. While extreme heat episodes are multiplying with global warming, prevention must be strengthened.
The Call of Rescue Professionals joins that of the authorities : Respect the swimming bans, adopts the right safety reflections and educating the younger ones remain the best weapons to avoid new dramas this summer.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
