HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Hollywood Ocean Rescue is expanding its emergency response capabilities with new equipment designed to help lifeguards reach distressed swimmers faster and better respond to emergencies on the water.
The department recently received a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), a rescue vessel that officials say will significantly improve response times for incidents offshore.
Marine Safety Officer Ryan Ormston said the boat is intentionally designed to be simple, allowing crews to deploy it quickly during emergencies.
“The best thing about this boat is that it is very basic, and it’s built that way for a reason,” Ormston said.
Launching the boat requires a team effort, with several lifeguards carrying it into the water before starting the engine and heading out.
“It takes a team effort, but once you do it a few times, it works really well,” Ormston said.
Faster response on the water
The new rescue boat arrived last week and is already being incorporated into training exercises.
According to Marine Safety Chief Joyce Ferman, the vessel will allow lifeguards to respond more quickly to emergencies such as distressed swimmers or boats in trouble, rather than waiting for fire rescue boats from neighboring jurisdictions.
“If there’s a boat on fire in the ocean or somebody is distressed, we can just take it,” Ferman said. “In addition to the fire boats that sometimes come from Miami Beach or Fort Lauderdale, we can get there faster than them.”
The boat can be used by both Hollywood Ocean Rescue and the city’s fire rescue crews.
Officials also expect it to be used for routine patrols during holidays and other busy beach days, in addition to emergency responses.
More lifesaving equipment coming to the beach
Hollywood Ocean Rescue is also expanding the lifesaving equipment available along the shoreline.
The department plans to install life rings at every lifeguard stand, allowing beachgoers to assist someone in distress by throwing a flotation device into the water rather than entering themselves.
In addition to the life rings, lifeguard towers will be equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs), emergency response bags, Stop the Bleed kits and Narcan, the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
“It feels amazing to get all the equipment we actually need to do our job,” Ferman said. “We definitely are very excited about this new addition.”
Officials said it will take several months before life rings are installed at every lifeguard stand, but the new rescue boat is expected to be in service soon as crews complete their training.
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