France warns against unsupervised river swimming as child drownings surge

Public health officials in France say swimming outside designated areas in rivers, canals and other natural water bodies is dangerous, especially for minors. Data from Santé Publique France show that 43 % of accidental drownings involve children or teenagers under 18, and more than half of fatal drownings occur in open‑water settings.

Authorities urge the public to use supervised beaches, lakes and swimming zones and to spread the safety message. In parallel, safety experts recommend that children wear fluorescent‑coloured swimwear—such as orange, green or yellow—to improve visibility underwater, noting that bright colours are easier to spot than pastel or white garments. The colour recommendation complements, but does not replace, active adult supervision.