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HEALTH

Is it safe to swim in France’s lakes?

Dramatic images of enormous blisters on a woman’s legs after she went paddling in a lake in south-east France were caused by a severe reaction to a plant, experts have said

Published: 19 June 2024 14:25 CEST

The lac du Bourget, Aix-les-Bains. (Photo by JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT / AFP)

The images were pretty shocking.

A mother and her daughter suffered painful blistering hours after paddling in a lake near the town of Aix-les-Bains in the Savoie département, south-east France, Le Dauphiné Libéré reported.

Depuis une semaine, une Aixoise et sa fille souffrent de cette maladie mystérieuse, apparue un peu plus de 24 heures après une promenade sur la plage du Rowing à Aix-les-Bains. https://t.co/mQ1pv5GPt1

— Le Dauphiné Libéré (@ledauphine) June 18, 2024

The following day, they both suffered intense burning, stinging sensations on their legs, and then the blisters appeared, French media reported.

They were initially prescribed corticosteroid cream and allergy medication, but a dermatologist diagnosed phytophotodermatitis – a rash occurring after contact between the skin and certain chemicals found in many plants.

It’s sometimes known in France as dermite des prés (meadow dermatitis), and develops when the chemicals in the plant come into contact with skin and are exposed to sunlight. The painful condition is treatable, and – in this instance – both mother and daughter are responding well to the care they are receiving, reports say.

The regional health authority in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes told BFM TV that it had received no reports of phytophotodermatitis or similar cases.

So should I avoid swimming or paddling in French makes?

Such a reaction is, however, extremely rare and bathing is considered risk-free in supervised areas, where the water complies with regulatory standards.

But it’s a good idea to acquaint yourself with local rules before taking a ‘wild’ dip – and keep up to date with any temporary changes in water quality. During the bathing season, the local health authorities inspect all bathing areas, and post results of water analysis near beaches and bathing areas.

The French Health Ministry regularly updates an interactive map of safe swimming locations, based on the data of each regional health agency, noting spots that are inspected at least once per month by the local authorities.

The site allows users to select their département of choice and then zoom in on the beaches or river spots of interest. Swimming areas are then ranked in a series of colours from excellent (blue) all the way through to pink, where swimming is prohibited for public health reasons.

Even where swimming is considered safe, water quality is changeable. Recent heavy rains, for example, could cause overflowing from collection or treatment facilities intended for wastewater or significant surface runoff.

Household wastewater, animal excrement and livestock effluents discharged into the environment, polluting bathing sites, can lead to poor water quality.

Meanwhile, in artificial water bodies, dermatitis-causing parasites – carried by water fowl – can develop when the water temperature is high enough (from 25°C). These can lead to itching, sometimes known as dermatite des nageurs, or la puce du canard (swimmer’s dermatitis or duck itch).

In both saltwater and freshwater, algae blooms caused by sunlight, warm temperatures and water composition can make the water look green, red or brown. Some algae contains toxins that may affect swimmers’ health.

Supervised swimming areas will also use a flag system to indicate whether it is safe to swim.

Where can you swim?

Most waterways in France are classed as ‘free locations’, meaning that you can swim without restriction in any body of water (sea, pond, river or lake) as long as there is no rule in place saying that you cannot.

Basically, in locations like this, you swim at your own risk. Local authorities will post signs signifying possible and unseen dangers of swimming outside supervised areas, and it should be noted that more than six in 10 drownings happen in unsupervised swimming areas – a figure that rises to 98 percent for river or canal swimming.

Supervised swimming areas have the advantage of lifeguards on duty for certain periods of the day between June 15th to September 15th for sea swimming, and from July 1st to August 31st for freshwater swimming.

Along the French coast, swimming areas are indicated by two two-tone flags, red at the top and yellow at the bottom. This signage is supplemented by a flag which must be visible from the entire swimming area, with three colours: green indicates “supervised swimming without apparent danger”; yellow is for for “supervised swimming with limited or marked danger”; and red indicates “bathing prohibited”.

Access to these swimming areas is generally free, but the Code du Sport allows for an entry fee in the case of “physical and sporting activity establishments in which aquatic activities, bathing or swimming are practised or in which these activities are part of the provision of services”.

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Explained: How dangerous are French heatwaves?

A recent report highlighted the potential risks to athletes’ health if this summer’s Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games take place during a heatwave. The report, backed by climate scientists and athletes, warned of the potentially fatal risks of high temperatures at this year’s Games.

While most people are unlikely to be trying to break a 100m record during a heatwave – or any other time in fact – high temperatures bring with them serious risks to health.

Mercury rising

Any temperatures in France are getting higher, the country has endured a series of record heatwaves in recent years.

The all-time temperature record for Paris is 42.6C, set during a heatwave in 2019. It’s entirely possible this record won’t last long – 2022 was the hottest year on record in France, with a record 33 days meeting officially defined heatwave conditions: five in June and 14 in both July and August.

Vérargues, in the southern Hérault département, holds the highest recorded temperature in France – 46C set on June 28th, 2019.

The highest national average temperatures in France were recorded later in the year: August 5th, 2003, saw an average national temperature of 29.47C, followed by July 25th, 2019, when the average daily temperature was 29.4C.

And remember – air conditioning is not standard in French homes.

Health risks

There is no question that heatwaves can be fatal – some 400 people died in France in a two-week heatwave in August 2023 when new local temperature records were set around the country, according to public health data.

Over the whole of last summer, some 5,000 excess deaths were recorded between June 1st and September 15th, 2023, of which 1,500 were attributed to the heat.

Over the same period, nearly 20,000 heat-related emergency calls were recorded, according to a report by Santé Publique France published in February this year, and 10,600 additional hospitalisations followed a visit to the emergency department during periods of high temperature.

The risk is highest among the elderly or people with chronic health conditions, but also at risk are outdoor workers and people exercising – including hiking – during the hottest part of the day.

The government issues weather warnings – ranging from yellow (be aware) to red (potential risk to life) during heatwaves and we would strongly advise people to take notice and follow the advice, even if you come from a hot country.

Climate trends

And it seems that the situation is not going to get better soon, even if the response has improved.

“By the end of the century, heatwaves will be more frequent, more intense, and spread over a period from May to October,” warned France’s Haut Conseil pour le climat (High Council for the Climate) in a report in 2021.

Around 80 percent of the French population will experience 16 to 29 abnormally hot days each year over the three decades to come, as climate change takes hold according to a 2022 study by national statistics institute Insee – with Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Occitanie the most affected regions.

It estimates that more than 9 million people will have to endure more than 20 extremely hot days each year in the years to come. Nighttime temperatures will also rise, with some areas seeing up to 19 abnormally hot nights each year, compared to seven between 1976 and 2005.

The phenomenon of ‘tropical nights’ – where the temperature does not drop below 23C even at night – is linked to sleepless nights and heat stress, as the body does not get the chance to cool itself.

Meanwhile, Santé Publique France’s figures underline the impact of high temperatures during heatwaves, it said, and confirmed the need for measures throughout the country, and for a reinforced strategy of adaptation to climate change, to reduce the impact of heat on health.

The unusual Pentecôte public holiday in France, when many people work ‘for free’ by donating that day’s salary a government ‘solidarity fund’ for the elderly, was introduced in 2005 following the disastrous 2003 heatwave, when more than 15,000 French people, most of them elderly, died in the sweltering temperatures.

Heat islands

The particular problem with Paris – and other major conurbations – is that it is a noted ‘urban heat island’, where temperatures can be up to 10C warmer than in the surrounding countryside, due to a combination of human activities, concrete surfaces that reflect heat, and heat pollution such as air conditioning units and cars.

The phenomenon also leads to significantly warmer nighttime temperatures, as heat accumulates during the day but cannot escape in the same way it might in a less dense environment – making for sticky nights that make it hard to sleep and increase the effects of heat stress, especially among the elderly or ill.

Emergency plans

One thing that has improved in recent years is how France deals with its heatwaves.

After 2003’s fatal summer, the French government introduced new protocols to protect the public whenever the temperature rises above a certain threshold.

Today, when the temperature soars, the government issues health advice on staying safe, which includes: drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, staying indoors during the hottest part of the day (afternoon and early evening), keeping in the shade, exercising only during the coolest parts of the day (early morning and late nights) and eating regular meals.

Most cities now have heatwave plans. Parks stay open at night and ‘cool rooms’ open up to give those in at-risk groups a chance to be taken somewhere they can cool down.

Fire risk

Extreme temperatures and long periods without rain also increase the risk of wildfires.

The year 2022 was the worst on record for wildfires in France. In total 72,000 hectares, or an area seven times the size of Paris, burned over the summer.

Overall, 90 percent of fires are caused by humans – either deliberately or accidentally. But while casually throwing away a cigarette is objectively dumb, heatwaves can – and do – increase the risk of fires.

Where weather conditions do have a major effect is in turning what would perhaps have been a containable fire into a wildfire that devours thousands of hectares of ground and prompt evacuations.

High temperatures make it more likely that fires will start, but drought conditions cause these fires to spread – parched vegetation with no moisture catches extremely easily. In the height of summer, large parts of the south of France are particularly at risk of wildfires.

This is far from a new phenomenon. It’s why there has always been a wildfire ‘season’ in the hottest months of the year and why wildfires are much less common – though not unheard of – in winter.

In October 1970, 11 people died in a wildfire near France’s far southeastern border with Italy and in 1985 an inferno in the same area killed five volunteer firefighters.

Deaths are more unusual today, thanks to improved techniques and technology, but the fires themselves are getting more common, bigger and occur over a wider geographical area.

Poor air quality resulting from wildfire smoke can be a serious health risk to those with respiratory conditions.

If you live in an area where wildfires are common, make sure you sign up to the government emergency text alert system so you get the latest advice on whether you need to evacuate. You can also keep track of the risk of wildfire in your area by checking the government’s forest fire map, which is updated daily.

And you have legal obligations, too, relating to keeping your property as clear as possible of fire hazards during key wildfire periods.

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