Vermont Health Dept. Urges Swimming Hole Safety

The Vermont Health Department is urging swimmers to take precautions when swimming in a river or stream.

The advice comes after multiple suspected drownings in Vermont rivers over the last several days that were at least partly attributed to the high running water caused by heavy summer rains.

Last week a 16-year-old boy drowned in a river in Barre. On July 4, a 26-year-old man drowned in a Bristol river and a Massachusetts man drowned in Lake Groton.

Health Commissioner Dr. Harry Chen says many swim areas that are usually not hazardous are now unsafe and even the strongest, expert swimmer can be swept away.

Mike Cannon of Colchester Technical Rescue says the rivers are wild now. He is urging people to stay out of areas with fast moving water.