Keeping Yourself And Others Safe While Swimming This Summer

Hot summer weather calls for enjoying the beach and swimming in the region's many pools, lakes and ponds. That's a source of joy for most, but it also brings risk.

There's been a troubling spike in drownings in Massachusetts recently. The latest came Thursday in Pocasset Harbor on Cape Cod. It's one of at least 10 drownings in the past few weeks. The victims in these incidents have been as old as 76 and as young as 2 years old.

What are the causes for all these drownings? And as the weather continues to heat up the rest of the summer, how can swimmers stay safe?

Kevin Whalen, director of aquatics at the Department of Conservation and Recreation of Massachusetts.