County officials credit drowning‑prevention communications campaign with no calls since July kickoff
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Summary
MedAct and county partners said a focused drowning‑prevention communications campaign launched July 11 coincided with zero drowning calls in Johnson County since the campaign's media push; staff credited interdepartmental coordination for the outreach.
County emergency‑medical responders and communications staff told commissioners Aug. 14 that a coordinated drowning‑prevention campaign launched in July appears to have coincided with a drop in drowning calls.
Joe Folsom of MedAct said county crews noticed a sharp increase in drownings earlier in the summer, including one fatality and several serious incidents involving children. In mid‑July the county launched a social‑media and media campaign with the fire department, communications, parks and recreation and the health department. "Since this campaign kicked off, July 11, there have now been 0 drowning calls in the county since that time," Folsom said.
Why it matters: Officials called the outreach a priority public safety communication effort. Commissioners praised the cross‑department collaboration and said rapid, targeted communications can save lives by raising awareness about simple prevention measures.
Implementation and partners: County staff credited MedAct, communications and engagement, Parks and Recreation, and the Department of Health and Environment for the messaging. Battalion Chief Drew Bridal served as a public face for interviews with local news outlets. Commissioners said the effort demonstrated the value of strategic communication as a board priority.
Next steps: Staff said they will continue outreach and monitoring and recommended ongoing coordination during the remainder of the summer season.