Drowning risk during summer holidays worries French parents and grandparents watching over children, but adults face serious danger in the water too, according to journalist Anicet Mbida, who presented new safety accessories on TF1's "Bonjour ! La Matinale TF1."
Mbida said one in two seniors cannot swim, and that drowning problems also affect adults. He said even confident swimmers can suffer a cramp, feel unwell, or get swept away by a current, which is why armbands designed specifically for adults were invented.
How adult armbands work
Mbida said adult armbands look nothing like children's versions, describing them as much more discreet. He explained the device attaches to the arm during water activities and functions exactly like a life jacket.
In distress, the user presses a button that inflates a buoy to help them resurface and hold on until help arrives, Mbida said. The device costs around 70 euros, is reusable, and each refill cartridge costs five euros.
A safety collar and smart wristbands
A collar version works on the same principle, Mbida said. He explained that pressing the button inflates the buoy around the head, keeping it above water without effort, which he called a practical solution for someone feeling unwell.
Some water parks and pools have begun requiring all visitors to wear an anti-drowning bracelet, Mbida said. He described it as a large wrist device, similar to a smart watch, that monitors health data and automatically sends GPS location to lifeguards as soon as it detects panic or early signs of drowning.
