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Information bulletin
Safety tips for swimming in France
Automatically translated from French ·
Published on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 5:06 PM
In France, nearly 1,400 drownings were recorded between June and September 2025, including 409 deaths. The Ministry of Sports recommends never bathing alone, constantly supervising children, and preferring supervised swimming areas. Check weather conditions and swimming area warning signs.
Emergency instructions
112: European emergency number for emergency situations in the European Union.
18: Firefighters for incidents involving property or people.
196: Maritime rescue from the coast (landline or mobile phone). At sea, use VHF channel 16.
Drownings represent a major threat in France, particularly among young people under 25. Between 1 June and 30 September 2025, 1,418 drownings were recorded, including 409 deaths, resulting in a mortality rate of 29%. These figures are up 14% for drownings and 16% for deaths compared to the same period in 2024.
Risk prevention:
- Never swim alone. If this is unavoidable, inform a close person of your swimming location.
- Always stay within reach of your children, even in supervised areas.
- Swim at the same time as them, and designate one adult solely responsible for their supervision.
- Prioritize supervised swimming areas for rapid intervention in case of emergency.
Swimming conditions:
- Check with lifeguard staff about currents, natural hazards, or other risks.
- Observe swimming signals (flags) and follow instructions from lifeguards.
- Consult weather forecasts via the websites windmorbihan.com, windcornouaille.com, and windloireatlantique.com to anticipate dangerous conditions.
Physical precautions:
- Do not swim if you feel shivering or physical discomfort.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure before swimming.
- Do not consume alcohol before or during swimming.
- Use a swimming buoy in open water if swimming in natural environments (lakes, rivers).
For specific profiles:
- Seniors must assess their physical fitness before swimming in the sea.
- Young children must be supervised at all times near private swimming pools.
- Swimming in rivers or lakes carries risks that are often underestimated.
Swimming lessons:
- Learn to swim at any age, with a certified swimming instructor.
- Have your own swimming level and your children's swimming level assessed.
Swimming signs:
- Download the official guide to the meaning of swimming signs (PDF, 300 KB).
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To enjoy swimming safely, prefer supervised swimming areas. ⚠️ Avoid swimming in unsupervised zones, where risks are higher. 👉 Adopt the right safety habits for a safe summer.
To enjoy swimming safely, prefer supervised swimming areas. ⚠️ Avoid swimming in unsupervised areas, where risks are higher. 👉 Adopt the right habits for a safe summer. 
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