How to safely enjoy the water in Maine as temperatures rise

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 2, 2026

After a string of recent deaths and with temperatures rising this week, officials are encouraging people in Maine to keep safety in mind when enjoying the water. “Once it’s warm enough in Maine to access natural water sources, we might make decisions that we wouldn’t otherwise, and people are often not as competent swimmers as they think,” said Brooke Teller, founder and executive director of Maine Community Swimming, citing an American Red Cross report. According to the Red Cross, 80% of adults say they can swim, but less than half can perform the five water competency skills required to save their own lives.