Group says beach rescue rings would prevent drownings

A local citizens group is urging city leaders to install rescue throw rings on Fernandina Beach walkover markers to help save lives from rip currents, following a deadly incident last month that shook the community.

Gail Banwell, speaking on behalf of the informal group, addressed the City Commission Tuesday night with a simple, urgent question: "Can we put rescue rings or tubes on our beach walkover markers or something like that?"

The proposal aims to equip beachgoers with flotation tools to assist distressed swimmers without endangering themselves. Banwell said her group researched how other Florida communities have adopted similar systems, citing recent efforts in Panama City and Flagler Beach, where rings and rescue tubes are now standard at many public access points.

Banwell emphasized that open-water rescues without flotation are “tremendously dangerous,” noting that a person caught in a rip current can drown in just four minutes.

“The idea of a rescue tube or rescue ring might just give us a chance to save someone, keep them alive until the first responders arrive,” she told commissioners.

Tragedy recently hit close to home. On April 24, Joshua Curtis, 38, an Army veteran, drowned while saving his son and niece from a rip current at Main Beach. Both children survived.

“Often the person who drowns is the one trying to help,” Banwell said. “Our dream is fewer valiant good Samaritans drowning — let’s keep them alive and in our communities.”

City Commissioner Genece Minshew expressed strong support for investigating the proposal.

“If it saves one life, it’s worth it,” Minshew said. “What I would ask is that we take a hard look at this and see how we could make this happen.”

Minshew acknowledged potential concerns — such as improper use of the equipment or maintenance issues — but said the experiences of other beach towns could provide valuable lessons.

The Rotary Club in Flagler Beach recently funded and installed rescue rings, offering a model for how local partnerships can help.

Fernandina Beach city staff will now evaluate the feasibility of the rescue ring project, including consulting with the fire chief and other coastal communities that have implemented similar lifesaving measures.

For Banwell and her group, it’s a small step that could make a big difference.

“We're concerned with public safety, and we were dismayed at another drowning on the beach,” she said.

The Rotary Club (lunch group) of Fernandina Beach contacted the Observer and said they were working with city officials to implement a rescue ring program.

"We have already begun discussions with the fire Chief and Ocean Rescue, as well as have contact with the Drown Zero group, to get the Drown Zero poles installed at our beaches,"  said Dagney Stone in an email. "We have a follow up meeting with the Fire Department and Ocean Rescue in a few weeks to meet with Drown Zero for a demo. We plan to use our Rotary chartered Scouting America Troops in this effort, as well as local businesses. It seems that there are many open doors to have this program installed. We are working on the most important aspect first, getting the fire and ocean rescue folks on board."