Last month, two young paddle boarders were stranded at sea after being swept 2,000 feet from shore by strong winds and currents. Rescue teams deployed a drone to keep an eye on them and get them to safety within minutes.
The Oak Island Fire Department in North Carolina is one of the few in the country using drone technology for rescues at sea, and firefighter-turned-drone pilot Sean Barry explained the drone's capabilities during a demonstration flight on a windy day.
“This drone can fly in any weather and environment,” Barry said.
The vehicle is equipped with a camera that can be switched between different modes, including an infrared camera, and rescue workers can communicate instructions through a speaker. It also has the ability to carry life-saving equipment.
The device is powered by a CO2 cartridge that activates when it comes into contact with water, and once activated, it inflates into a long tube measuring approximately 26 inches, giving you something to hold on to while swimming.
In an actual rescue operation, a drone received a 911 call from shore, found a swimmer in distress, and released two life jackets to keep the swimmer afloat until help arrived.
Like many coastal communities, Oak Island's population can swell from about 10,000 to as many as 50,000 during the summer tourist season. Rip currents, which are hard to detect from the surface, can occur at any time.
Rip currents kill about 100 people each year on U.S. beaches. Rip currents account for more than 80 percent of beach rescues, and rescuers advise that if you are caught in a rip current, don't panic or resist; instead, float or swim parallel to the shoreline to escape the current.
Oak Island Fire Chief Lee Price said many people underestimate the strength of rip currents.
“People think, 'Oh, I'm a good swimmer, I'll go for a swim,' and then they get into trouble,” Price said.
For Price, the benefit of drones is not only faster response times, but also the safety of rescuers, who can determine, via cameras and speakers, whether someone is in danger.
Price said many people may not be aware of it.
“Just like as technology advances, it takes everyone a little while to catch up and get used to it,” Price said.
During the demonstration, Barry showed the drone delivering a safety rope to a swimmer while rescuers prepared to pull him to shore.
“This allows for rapid deployment, speed, precision and overall safety,” Price said. “Not only does it ensure the safety of the victim, but also the safety of the rescuers.”
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Manuel Bohorquez
