The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published September 3, 2025

Local emergency services join forces to prevent child drownings

LAKE OF THE OZARKS - The Lake Area Fire Districts, EMS agencies and Law Enforcement Agencies are joining together to promote immediate 911 activation in the case of a missing person, especially children.

So far, in 2025 lake area emergency services have responded to six child drownings.

“Our area is unique in that we have Lake of the Ozarks, when a call is received for missing person, our responders make checking the shore and pools our top priority,” a spokesman said. “However, often when a child is missing the family and neighbors will attempt to search for the missing person before calling 911.

“We have seen significant delays in 911 activation, while we certainly encourage searching as quickly as possible, 911 activation is paramount to getting help to the scene quickly and establishing an organized search effort. Responders bring resources and personnel to search and coordinate both responder and civilian search efforts. We want our residents, visitors and business owners to know, we can always turn around incoming resources if the missing loved one is located, but early notification is key to a more successful search.”

While searches do not always yield a positive outcome for the missing person, emergency agencies are here to serve and assist in any way they can.

When 911 is activated for a missing person, each agency has protocols in place and the community of emergency services come together to assist the agency making a request with manpower, utility vehicles, drones, specialized search and rescue teams and command units.

“It’s not an embarrassment…it’s being proactive! Help us help you! When you discover a loved one is missing, call 911,” said the spokesman.

Things you can do to be proactive before an emergency occurs:

1. Know where your child is at all times.
2. Enforce rules with your children such as - no one goes near water without a life jacket
3. Keep access points to swimming pools locked at all times.
4. Encourage all adults to enforce life jackets and rules as a team effort.

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