Two local Rotary clubs presented a proposal Tuesday to install rescue tubes on Okaloosa County beaches as part of a drowning prevention initiative that has already expanded across the Florida Panhandle.
- Dion Moniz of the Destin Rotary Club told the Board of County Commissioners the project is a joint effort between his club and the Fort Walton Beach Rotary Club to place the rescue devices on beaches controlled by Okaloosa County.
“This all started about 25 years ago. Rotary teamed up with the Rescue Tube Foundation to put these rescue tubes out,” Moniz said during the Sept. 3 Board of County Commissioners meeting.
The rescue tubes are designed to assist people who attempt water rescues, often putting themselves at risk. According to Moniz, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional deaths worldwide, with an estimated 236,000 drownings annually. It is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4.
- “More often than not, it’s a family member that’s drowning. So mom or dad tries to go rescue the child and they both drown,” Moniz explained. “This is not meant necessarily to encourage someone that’s not a strong swimmer to attempt to rescue. It’s more to give that family member that’s going in regardless, a way of saving their child and themselves.”
The system has a proven track record of success, says Moniz. Over 600 tubes are currently in use, with more than 200 known rescues and a 100% success rate where both victim and rescuer survived, according to Moniz. A 25-year study in Hawaii showed areas with rescue tubes had a 100% reduction in rescuer deaths compared to zero reduction in areas without the devices.
The 10-foot posts are buried four feet deep in sand and equipped with white sleeves for aesthetic appeal. The rescue tubes can support up to three adults and feature easy-release straps. Each installation includes informational signage with emergency contact numbers and location details.
Each tube costs approximately $250 to install, with an additional $250 in maintenance costs projected over five years. The tubes typically last two to three years in Florida’s sun, requiring periodic replacement.
- The Rotary clubs will fully fund and maintain the project through business sponsorships sold for $500 each. Local businesses can sponsor individual tubes, which display sponsor information along with safety instructions.
Moniz said theft has been minimal in other installations. Destin experienced one theft during spring break, while Navarre averages about one loss per six months. The clubs plan to provide extra tubes to the county for immediate replacement of any stolen units.
The rescue tubes have withstood hurricanes when properly installed, according to Moniz. He noted that other counties and cities in the panhandle have already approved the installations, making Okaloosa County “the last link in the chain” needed to cover the entire region.
Chairman Paul Mixon expressed support, calling it “great project” and indicating the county’s willingness to partner with the Rotary clubs.
Following the presentation, county staff will now draft an agreement for the project. The agreement will be brought back to the commissioners at a future meeting for a formal vote. Specific locations for the rescue tubes have not yet been determined but will be placed along public beach access areas controlled by Okaloosa County.
