Health officials stress the importance of knowing how to swim after child drowning accident in Bennington [Video]

Last Friday in Bennington, a 9-year-old accidentally drowned at a summer camp.Health officials in both Vermont and Northern New York are stressing the importance of knowing how to swim. According to the Vermont Department of Health, Vermont averages nine drowning deaths per year.So far in 2024, there have been five drowning deaths of residents in Vermont.“Most drowning deaths are in natural bodies of water versus artificial ,” said Stephanie Busch with the Vermont Department of Health.In New York, the Clinton County Health Department said drowning is the leading cause of death for children up to the age of 14.Molly Flynn, from their department, said it isn’t like the movies, where there’s splashing and yelling for help.Drowning is often swift and silent.Her advice to parents and guardians is to always keep an eye on kids when they’re in the water.A simple solution to help with that is changing the color of …