More than 550 drownings registered in France in one month, 121 people died

522, this is the number of drownings recorded since June 1 by Public Health France. In its Noyade 2018 survey, the final results of which will be known at the end of September, the scientific and expert body states that 121 people have already lost their lives in France, four deaths per year. day since the beginning of the beautiful days.

According to France Info, which reveals the first results of this terrible census, accidental drowning resulting in death increases with age. It is 9% for children under 6, compared to 37% for those 65 and over. This segment of the population is concerned by more than a quarter (26%) of drownings at sea, compared to 33% for people aged 6 to 25.

A child can drown in less than three minutes [19659005] The drownings identified as accidental occurred at 40% at sea, 27% in the pool, the rest of the incidents took place in rivers or bodies of water. Of the 257 accidents recorded in June, 70 drownings occurred in the pool, including 52 in private family swimming pool.

Public Health France recalls that a child can drown in less than three minutes in just 20 centimeters. 'water. In one month, six children under six died drowned, three of them in a private family pool. At the same time, 13 people over the age of 65 were killed, including 12 at sea.

According to the public establishment, most fatal accidents involving children are due to a lack of supervision, a lack of safety device or a fall. Adults are, for the most part, victims of discomfort, imprudence or not being able to swim well.

Do the French know (really) to swim better?

As a reminder, the 2016 Health Barometer indicated that "nearly one in six French people declared that they did not know how to swim". They are 5% among 15-24 year olds but more than 35% among 65-75 year olds. The scientific agency then reminds parents that it would be good to learn to swim to their children as soon as possible, from the age of 4-5 years.

The survey Noyades 2018 is provided throughout in the summer by the help of the drowned, such as firefighters or Samu. In 2016, Santé Publique France had counted 1,266 accidental drownings, of which 436 were followed by one death.

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