LAKE OF THE OZARKS — The Missouri State Highway Patrol and business owners are urging people to stay safe at the Lake of the Ozarks this Labor Day weekend.

There have been seven water fatalities this year and two incidents of toddlers drowning in August.

More than a dozen lake-area fire protection districts, emergency medical services and law enforcement agencies released a joint statement asking people to call 911 before searching for missing children.

"We have seen significant delays in 911 activation," the statement said, "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."

The statement includes a list of things people can do to be proactive before an emerge

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