Officials push swimming lessons as 6 drownings reported

MESSAGE THIS MORNING. MATT. GOOD MORNING. WELL, DOUG, GOOD MORNING. HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY, THERE’S ALREADY BEEN SIX DROWNINGS. SO FAR THIS SUMMER. NOW THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS TRYING TO STRESS TO FAMILIES THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER SAFETY AND THAT STARTS WITH THE NUMBER ONE RULE NEVER SWIM ALONE. WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO DO IS HAVE A MONITOR, A DESIGNATED PERSON THAT’S ACTUALLY IN CHARGE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING AN EYE ON EVERYBODY, MAKING SURE THAT, LIKE, I CAN TOUCH THE GROUND STILL, BUT IF I CAN’T, THEN I’M GOING TO GO BACK TO LIKE WHERE I CAN TOUCH THE GROUND. NOW, DROWNING IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN AGES 1 TO 4. THE ESSEX COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, PAUL TUCKER, WHO YOU JUST HEARD FROM, IS ALSO EMPHASIZING TO PARENTS THAT A CHILD COULD BE IN DISTRESS EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT SCREAMING OR SPLASHING. REPORTING LIVE IN SALEM THIS MORNING, MATT REED WCVB NEWSCENTER FIVE.