Q&A
Water rescues and beach safety measures
0:14:43
·
159 sec
Council Member Ariola discusses water rescues and beach safety with Chief Moore, focusing on coordination with other agencies, common incidents, and public education efforts.
- FDNY coordinates with NYPD, Parks Department, and OEM for beach patrols and water rescues
- Most water rescues involve people caught in riptides or swimming too far from shore
- FDNY conducts public service announcements and educational campaigns about water safety
- Interagency efforts are made to patrol beaches and waters, especially during peak seasons
Joann Ariola
0:14:43
And a lot of the search and rescue that happens you know, except for fires, happens on our beaches over the summertime.
0:14:50
So, you know, do you coordinate with the NYPD for when drone usage could be more helpful for you?
0:14:57
And you guys are trying to get somebody out of the ariptide or so type of dangerous situation in the water?
Malcolm Moore
0:15:04
Well, starting last year, we basically had dedicated units operating on the beaches, particularly in Rockaway from the weekend before Memorial Day through just this past Sunday.
0:15:20
So we have units patrol in the beach flying drones.
0:15:24
I think we have 3 units.
0:15:26
Park's department, I believe, has units out there.
0:15:28
PD has units out there.
0:15:30
OEM actually has units out there flying also.
0:15:33
So we divide the beach up and and we're patrolling those areas from 8 AM to 8 PM.
0:15:39
You couple hours before the lifeguards, come on and a couple hours after.
Joann Ariola
0:15:44
Right.
0:15:44
And I know that a lot of the because what we see in addition to drownings or potential drownings or those type of water risk is we see a lot of privately operated boats and jet skis in the water and they're not sometimes they're just you know, while the weekenders, and they they get a little jammed up.
0:16:02
So so how often would you say that your water rescue is is conducted because of that type of an accident or or a water rescue because of a boat or a jet ski?
Malcolm Moore
0:16:15
Well, looking at the last couple of years, I don't think we've had a lot of accidents in involving jet skis.
0:16:22
We do get a lot of phone calls when when they fall off the jet skis and the water, things like that.
0:16:29
So we we get a lot of we we we build a lot of responses based on people thinking that these people are more distressed than they actually are.
0:16:36
But I'd say the the main body of work work is is is people getting caught in ribtides or people going out a little bit too far into the water where they don't go.
Joann Ariola
0:16:44
Right.
0:16:45
And and we do a lot of work here in this body with education and outreach.
0:16:49
So does the FDNY or, you know, work with was is it the FDNY or do you work with other agencies for any type of outreach relating to safety precautions for water, recreation, boats, or jet skis?
Malcolm Moore
0:17:02
Well, we we've done PSAs and and and other things to spread the word about water dangers, operating safely, not being in the water when lifeguards are off duty and and the like.
0:17:15
I think the primary responsibility for that is parks.
0:17:17
I'm not really sure what they what they're doing in terms of ad campaigns.
0:17:22
Okay.
0:17:22
Great.
