Beach, swimming pool or body of water: as soon as a child is in the water, vigilance must be constant. If you are careless, danger can occur within seconds. Advice from Denis Foehrle, director of the National Federation of Swimming and Sports Professions (FNMNS).
Every year, during the summer, accidental drownings still affect many children. In 2025, Public Health France recorded 1,418 drownings, or 14% more than the previous year. And more than a quarter of these tragedies involved children under the age of 6, often in private swimming pools in front of adults. But then what reflexes should we adopt to prevent these accidents? Denis Foehrle, director of the FNMNS, answers us.
Swimming at the beach: what precautions should you take with children?
Several reflexes are essential to avoid the risk of drowning when swimming at the beach:
- Swimming in a supervised area
- Find out about the weather conditionsthanks to the color of the flags (green, yellow and red)
- Bring the child gradually into the water, “to limit the risk of hydrocution”.
- Always be with the childeven if he is equipped with armbands, a buoy, or if he plays at the water’s edge.
- Do not take your eyes off the child and don’t get distracted.
Moreover, “on the coast and inland bodies of water, swimming areas are generally supervised by lifeguards. It is therefore important to follow the recommendations of professionals”, explains the expert. In case of water activities, pay attention to tide times. Without forgetting that learning to swim is just as important to allow the child to be comfortable in the water.
Swimming in the pool: what should you watch out for?
For a swimming in the poolagain, “there are several precautions to take with children according to the category of the pool”comments Denis Foehrle. In swimming pools with mandatory supervision (public swimming pools), the presence of lifeguards does not exempt parents from actively monitoring their child. It is recommended to swim with him and to be extra vigilant around risk areas such as slides or fun rivers.
Safety rules in private swimming pools
In the private swimming poolscaution must be constant: always stay close to your child, never leave, even for a few seconds. “A drowning can be relatively discreet and silent. A toddler can drown in just 20 cm of water. underlines the expert. Keep a pole, a buoy and a telephone handy to alert emergency services if necessary.
You will have understood, the monitoring is essential when a child goes swimming. Above all, don’t forget to designate an adult responsible for supervision, even if the child is wearing armbands. Talk to him about the dangers of water and make sure that his armbands meet standards (CE, NF 13138-1), well adapted to his size. Also avoid buoys, inflatable boats or mattresses, which give a false impression of security!
- Drowning: prevention and vigilance remain essential: https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/presse/2025/noyades-la-prevention-et-la-vigilance-restent-essentielles#:~:text=Selon%20les%20donn%C3%A9es%20publi%C3%A9es%20par,stable%20par%20rapport%20%C3%A0%202023.
