With temperatures rising to the 90s in the weather forecast, many Vermonters may be thinking of heading to their favorite swimming hole.
But Vermont Health Department officials and a new advisory group are urging caution. With last week’s heavy rains, water levels are high around the state and currents are fast.
Ken Schatz is a member of an advisory group working with the department on swimming hole safety:
"Because there has been record rainfall in May, that some swimming holes have water that’s really high and fast right now and that can be very dangerous. And so while swimming holes can be great fun, we want people to have some caution with respect to swimming there right now," he said.
The Health Department says nearly 100 drowning deaths have occurred in natural settings like lakes and rivers in Vermont since 1985, including at six popular swimming holes.
The most dangerous places have been Huntington Gorge, with 15 deaths and Cobb Brook in Jamaica where 12 people have drowned. Also of concern are the Bolton Potholes, Dog’s Head Falls in Johnson, Twin Falls in Saxton’s River, Hamilton Falls in Westminster and the New Haven River in Bristol.
The swimming hole advisory group was formed in response to drowning deaths, including the July 2011 death of 12-year-old Bentley Siefer at the Bolton Potholes.
The group hopes to raise public awareness of the dangers at swimming holes during times when the water is high. And they’ll be working with landowners near drowning hazards to take measures including posting warning signs.
