AUSTIN — AUSTIN -- As the temperature rises in Central Texas, so does the number of water-related accidents, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.
On May 5, a man was swimming with his family on Lake Travis when he went underwater and never resurfaced, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Office. Deputies still haven't found his body.
About a week later, a teen nearly drowned at McKinney Falls State Park, according to ATCEMS.
These are just a few examples of the calls the agency's Special Operations Unit responds to, commander Craig Smith told KVUE.
His team handles water rescues, high-angle rescues, rescues on the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and anything else that falls outside of the typical medical call.
And because more people are out on the water this time of the year, his team is keeping busy.
"It's just like when school's in for UT, we're busier because there are more people here," Smith said. "A lot of people that live here come here because they want to be outside all the time. The more people we have out, obviously, the higher [number of] incidents."
Some people might not be familiar with their surrounding environments -- places like Lake Travis and the Barton Creek Greenbelt -- leading to trouble down the road, according to Smith.
"It's a lot of fun. It's cool. It's nice to get on the water on a hot day. But you need to pay attention to the conditions around you," Smith said.
He recommends swimmers assess their abilities before diving in.
"Based on where you're going, if the water is moving or if the water is still, you need to basically say, 'Am I comfortable? Am I capable of swimming in this water,'" he said.
He also recommends bringing along someone who is familiar with the area and telling friends or family where you're headed and when they can expect you back.