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Drownings: risk increases due to high temperatures
Drownings: risk increases due to high temperatures
(france 2)
272 drownings took place in France in the second half of July 2024, 22% more than in the same period in 2023. This coincides with the recent period of high heat.
In the overwhelming heat in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), bodies become dehydrated and weakened. The risk of drowning is at its highest, especially for the elderly and children. Some people take precautions, but drownings continue to occur in the Alpes-Maritimes. 41 have occurred since the beginning of the summer and 11 elderly people have died, three times more than in 2023. “They go into the water and feel unwell,” describes Stéphane Niollon from the Tour Rouge fire and rescue center in Nice.
On the beach, before entering the water, holidaymakers try to stay cool and hydrate. Lifeguards provide prevention services to the elderly and parents. Accidents most often occur in unsupervised areas, or before the lifeguards take up their post. In Nice, they are present from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., on the lookout for dangers.
