Choking, feeling of suffocation, coughing… what are the risks of drinking a cup while swimming in the sea ?

Le risque en buvant la tasse reste donc plus que minime.

Lors de la baignade, boire la tasse est courant. Mais ingérer involontairement de l’eau présente-t-il un risque pour la santé ?

Choke, feeling of choking, coughing… Who has never had a drink while swimming ? While this sensation is most unpleasant, accidentally swallowing a little water – in a swimming pool, river or even at the sea – is generally harmless.

However, too much can prevent proper oxygenation of the lungs, which exposes them to the risk of drowning. “If a child drinks from a cup repeatedly, they will need to be monitored”, recently explained to us Dr. François-Xavier Moronval, head of the Vosges Emergency Care Teaching Center. “A persistent cough, fever or respiratory discomfort can gradually lead to a lung infection.” This is why it is important to monitor the child closely in the hours following ingestion.

Breeding grounds for germs

Furthermore, bathing water, far from being pure, is home to a multitude of potentially harmful microorganisms. Among them, the Escherichia Coli bacteria, responsible for intestinal disorders and gastroenteritis (diarrhea, vomiting, etc.). In addition, the increasing presence of microplastics due to human pollution raises new concerns.

A risk of dehydration ?

Last point, “seawater contains 35g of salt per liter while our needs only amount to 9g per day”, we can read on the website of Marimer, from Gilbert laboratories. So “ if we only drink seawater – cases of shipwrecked people without resources – or too much sea water, our body will eliminate the excess salt and become dehydrated”. Of course, these are extreme cases. The risk of drinking the cup therefore remains more than minimal.