Lang
5/31/25
Swisher firefighters have issued a brief list of water safety tips in response to a rural Solon man dying after he was found in a pond southwest of Shueyville.
85-year-old Douglas Johnson was found floating in a pond near Deborah Drive NE Tuesday night. He was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, where he was later pronounced dead. The incident remains under investigation.
The Jefferson Monroe Fire Department later issued a statement thanking those who tried to assist Johnson before they could arrive on the scene. With schools starting to let out for the summer and temperatures expected to be in the mid-to-upper 80’s over the next few days, the Swisher-based fire department also passed along some water safety tips, such as:
- Never swim alone,
- Always enter unknown or shallow water feet first,
- Be cautious of currents, waves, and underwater obstacles like rocks,
- Swim sober,
- Wear appropriate personal flotation devices, such as life vests, and
- Ensure you have a way to contact emergency services in case of an emergency.
The full message can be found on the Jefferson Monroe Fire Department Facebook page.