Police: Stay out of water while drinking

Drinking and driving boats, as well as drinking and swimming, have led to several victims drowning this summer, and police Thursday urged citizens to stop the pattern.

Sgt. Blake Gilmore of the Massachusetts State Police Underwater Recovery Unit said using common sense can lead to a safer summer in the sun.

In the wake of recent drownings and several near-drownings in the last 10 days, Gilmore said swimmers could avoid catastrophe when boozing.

Drinking in severe heat leads to dehydration, which causes people to make poor decisions, he said.

Using empty coolers as buoys if someone falls overboard, and staying out of the water when intoxicated were just a few of the sergeant’s recommendations.  

Gilmore said several state agencies, including local law enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard, were patrolling the waters to make sure swimmers are safe and not driving boats while drinking.