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 Federation of Rescue and Lifesaving, the month of June became the deadliest month since 2015, with 73 deaths and an average of one drowning every 10 hours.

WHERE AND WHO?

• Rivers and reservoirs: more than 60 victims counted until July, many due to ignorance of 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 he was inactive.
• Alcohol consumption: impairs judgment and thermoregulation.
• Deceptive confidence: sleeves and mats give a feeling of security without certifying buoyancy.
• Lack of knowledge of the environment: unmarked areas, hidden currents and sudden changes in temperature encourage panic.

ADVICE 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, water fall alarms and non-slip bottom.
• Unification and professionalization of lifeguards: qualifications and stable hiring throughout the territory.
• Awareness campaigns against the consumption of alcohol before bathing and in favor of the use of certified life jackets.

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 work environment.

Preventive culture does not take vacations