In a proactive effort to improve beach safety, the Rotary Club of Gulf Breeze placed several life-saving rescue tubes on Pensacola Beach on April 12, with plans to install more as part of a broader community initiative to prevent drowning deaths.
The installation is part of Rotary District 6940’s Water Safety Program, a long-standing campaign to reduce water-related fatalities by equipping public beach areas with easily accessible rescue equipment.
Why Rescue Tubes Matter
Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death globally, and in Florida alone, there were 464 accidental drownings in 2022. Many of these occurred on beaches without lifeguard coverage.
Rescue tubes—brightly colored flotation devices mounted at public access points—allow bystanders to assist someone in distress without putting themselves at risk. Since its inception in 2015, the Water Safety Program has installed rescue tubes at locations such as Navarre Beach, with measurable success. According to available data, areas equipped with rescue tubes have reported zero rescuer fatalities, underscoring their value in emergency response.
Each rescue tube station costs under $200 to build and requires minimal maintenance. Rotary District 6940 is committed to expanding the program with future installations planned across the Florida Panhandle, including in Navarre and Panama City Beach.
To participate or learn more, contact:
- Michael Hoeflich, President
📧 michael.a.hoeflich@ampf.com | 📞 (850) 240-0355
- Mike Stahl, Vice President
📧 mike.stahl82@gmail.com | 📞 (850) 380-7387
Let’s work together to make Pensacola Beach a safer place for locals and visitors alike. Your involvement could help save a life.