284 deaths from drowning in Spain in 2025: rivers and swimming pools, alert scenario

So far this year, 284 people have lost their lives due to drowning in our country, according to the Royal Spanish Rescue and First Aid Federation, the month of June became the deadliest month since 2015, with 73 deaths and an average of one drowned person every 10 hours.

WHERE AND WHO?

• Rivers and reservoirs: more than 60 victims counted until July, many due to unknown internal currents, irregular bottoms or sudden drops in temperature. One of the most recent in the San Juan reservoir (Madrid), where a 24-year-old young man died after jumping from the rock and consuming alcohol.
• Swimming pools: at least 10 deaths in first official figures, the majority in private areas without a lifeguard. Minors represent about 10%.
• Predominant profile: men aged 45–74 years, with previous alcohol consumption in 30% of cases.Minors under 18 years of age account for at least 20 victims, almost always due to inadequate supervision or use of toy floats.

RISK FACTORS

• Lack of professional supervision: in 60% of drownings there was no lifeguard or the lifeguard was inactive.
• Alcohol consumption: impairs judgment and thermoregulation.
• Deceptive trust: sleeves and mats give a feeling of security without certifying buoyancy.
• Ignorance of the environment: unmarked areas, hidden currents and sudden changes in temperature encourage panic.

TIPS FROM INSTITUTIONS AND EXPERTS

• Always bathe in authorized and supervised areas; If there is no lifeguard, avoid doing it alone and maintain eye contact with companions.
• Training from childhood: aquatic education and basic first aid in schools.
• Measurements in private pools: perimeter fencing, fall in water and bottom alarms anti-slip.
• Unification and professionalization of lifeguarding: qualification and stable hiring throughout the territory.
• Awareness campaigns against alcohol consumption before bathing and in favor of the use of life jackets certificates.

From Fraternidad-Muprespa we reinforce our commitment to risk prevention, also in the summer months. Extreme heat not only aggravates workplace accidents, but also increases fatigue, errors in judgment and dehydration, factors that can indirectly contribute to accidents in the aquatic environment.

Therefore, we encourage companies and workers to consult our prevention content against heat stroke, available on our website and to maintain safe habits also outside the environment work.

Preventive culture does not take vacations