Overview

• Santé publique France data recorded 220 drownings in early summer 2024, compared with more than 400 this year as extreme heat drives swimmers toward rivers and lakes
• Fatality rates climbed 58%, reflecting the surge in heat-related drownings this season
• Nonfatal accidents among children aged 0–5 increased by 155% and those aged 6–12 by 153%, while minor fatalities rose to 19 versus eight last year
• Rivers and unsupervised bodies of water accounted for the majority of incidents, where sudden immersion poses a heightened shock risk during a heat wave
• Santé publique France has urged swimming at lifeguarded sites with gradual water entries to mitigate thermal shock and plans to continue monitoring throughout the summer holidays