Posted by Dr Michelle Wright
Hello and welcome to Health Matters. I’m Dr Michelle Wright.
With a very warm Swiss summer in full swing, many of us are heading to lakes and rivers to cool off and enjoy the sunshine. So very timely today that I’m talking about the serious issue of water safety – and the preventable tragedy of drowning.
In 2024, 52 people drowned in Switzerland. That’s slightly fewer than in 2023, but still a very concerning number.
According to the recent press release from the Swiss Lifesaving Society and the Office for Accident Prevention, 96% of all fatal drownings occurred in open water – rivers and lakes that can be more unpredictable than many people realise.
Who is most at risk of drowning?
What’s especially troubling is a consistent pattern: young men remain the most frequent drowning victims.
Of the 52 people who drowned last year, 44 were men – and among those, twelve were between 17 and 32 years old – a tragic statistic, and very similar to 2023.
Why is this happening?
Well part of the answer is risk-taking behaviour. Young men, especially, may overestimate their physical abilities, underestimate the strength of the current, or swim in unsafe conditions.
But it’s not just youth. Men aged 33 to 48 also dominate the fatality stats – and increasingly, seniors aged 65 to 80 are being affected too, accounting for 20% of all drowning deaths.
That rise among seniors is linked to more retirees staying active and swimming – but also possibly to underlying medical issues or misjudging their physical limits. Either way, the risks are real – and growing.
How can we stay safe in and around the water?
So, to counter all of this, the Swiss Lifesaving Society urges all swimmers to follow some simple but life-saving guidelines:
- Children near the water must always be accompanied – with small children kept within arm’s reach.
- Never swim after consuming alcohol or drugs. And never swim on a full stomach, or equally an empty stomach.
- Assess your physical condition honestly. Don’t swim if you’re feeling unwell or tired. And never jump into the water after prolonged sunbathing! Your body needs time to adjust.
- Air mattresses and any other swimming aids should not be used in deep water! They’re not safe.
- Never swim alone, especially long distances. Always have someone nearby or carry a flotation device.
- Use common sense. Don’t dive or jump into murky or unfamiliar waters – they can hide dangers.
- And respect your limits. Especially in open water where even strong swimmers can get into trouble fast.
Rivers accounted for 54% of drownings in 2024 – more than lakes for the first time in years. That makes it even more important to treat these environments with respect.
Let’s enjoy our beautiful Swiss waters – but do it safely. A few precautions can mean the difference between life and death.
