KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas. Share your story idea with Olivia.
With temperatures set to go up this week, families may flock to pools for relief. Johnson County MED-ACT is sounding the alarm over a rise in drowning-related incidents.
Parents warned as Johnson County drowning calls rise
So far this summer, JoCo MED-ACT has responded to 11 drowning-related calls, up from a typical average of three to six by this time of year. The increase includes at least one death, according to Battalion Chief Drew Hysell.
“Many neighborhood pools don’t have lifeguards, but they all have lifeguards,” said Hysell. “They have parents, they have family members, grandma, grandpa, babysitters that all, if we’re paying attention, can all be that lifeguard. So I think it’s upon the public to be prepared to be able to step in and be their lifeguard and be their first responder.”
Most incidents involve young children and occur at neighborhood pools with no lifeguards. Hysell emphasized that drownings often happen silently and in seconds, so parents need to constantly pay attention…