Officials in Ocean City unveiled new technology that will aid in first response. The police department will utilize a new fleet of drones, each equipped with inflatable tubes to help swimmers in distress. Officers and beach patrol staff were on hand at 12th Street Beach on Wednesday to test the new equipment and highlight its capabilities.
Hundreds of beachgoers watched the simulated demonstration. The buzz of a small drone flew overhead and out to the ocean, carrying with it an inflatable yellow tube. Lt. Bob Reichanek, who served as a swimmer in need of help, waited in the waters below as the apparatus was released. He was aided back to shore thanks to the beach patrol and Lt. Andrew Shaw. “Having floatation is super important,” he said. “If you have something to hold on to, and you’re staying calm, that’s going to give yourself a better chance of survival.”
“The search and rescue aspect of this has really been a game changer,” said Lt. Mark Pancoast, leader of Ocean City Police Department’s drone unit. He showcased the fleet’s capabilities and said the technology will be beneficial in times when the Beach Patrol is not on duty, whether it is early in the morning or late at night. “We’re trying to give that extra couple of minutes to preserve a life.”
In the event of a distress call, the police, fire, and beach patrol will be alerted simultaneously. One of the drones can be deployed rapidly to help save lives rapidly. The drones can also be used to aid search operations and are equipped with thermal mapping to keep watch over any crowded sections of the Boardwalk during the summer.
The eleven-person drone unit launched last year and has seen success in initiating new public safety equipment. According to Pancoast, the new technology will have a tremendous impact. “We all know that seconds count, so if we can preserve life with one of these drones, that’s the goal.”
