The number of drowning deaths recorded since the start of the heatwave has now surpassed 90, announced Sports and Youth Minister Marina Ferrari on Thursday. This toll, higher than the previous official figure of 74 deaths reported by authorities, illustrates the consequences of the extreme heat, which has driven many French people to seek relief from the heat in rivers, lakes, or the sea.
According to the minister, the number of drownings has decreased in recent days with the drop in temperatures, confirming the link between heat waves and an increase in accidents. The first days of the heat wave particularly affected many young people, although authorities reiterate that no segment of the population is completely immune.
The government wants to strengthen prevention
Marina Ferrari emphasized the main risk factors, mentioning the essential need for supervision of very young children and the dangerous behavior of some teenagers and young adults, such as diving from bridges or swimming in unsupervised areas. She also acknowledged the difficulties related to the lack of swimming pools, particularly in rural areas, and indicated that additional funding had been allocated for their renovation.
The minister finally announced a reform of the national lifeguard certification to increase the number of lifeguards responsible for monitoring swimming areas. The government also wants to further develop open water swimming instruction, considered essential given the increasing number of accidents outside of swimming pools. Last summer, 409 people drowned in France, including 57 children and teenagers.
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