Lifesaving Drones of San Mateo, California

Southern California lifeguard towers

San Mateo, California lifeguards implement the use of drones to assist in lifesaving operations

San Mateo, California lifeguards have begun implementing drone use into their lifesaving operations. Wherever the wrath of mother nature is concerned, medical emergencies tend to go hand in hand.

With twice the number of ocean rescues logged in 2019 and 2020 and two fatal drownings within the first month of 2021, the traditional rescuing operations comprised of fleshy, warm-blooded humans running and swimming to save the life of someone struggling in the water wasn’t cutting it.

Rosemary Blankswade, a spokesperson for the San Mateo Sheriff’s Office told NBC News, “At the beginning of the year when we had two of those fatal drownings, we really kind of stepped up our efforts as far as research and getting those tools in place sooner than later.”

Unmanned aircraft (drones) have come a long way since being solely operated by the military in covert operations but with the right amount of discipline and a big enough piggy bank they can be operated recreationally by children. What’s discussed here is the in-between.

San Mateo Sheriff’s officers and lifeguards have found a way to incorporate these small, thermoplastic-structured flying machines into their everyday rescue operations but they haven’t quite finished with testing.

The end goal is to coexist with the drones, not to make in-person assistance obsolete. The DJI Mavic 2 drones are fitted with a unique releasing mechanism that allows them to carry and drop a lifejacket to the distressed swimmers.

Ocean lifeguard utilizes UAV

"Depth perception is really hard. I think they just err on the side of caution and stay a little bit higher. But, ideally, we would like to get a lot more practice in trying to kind of get the life jacket directly to the person,” Blankswade said.

For now, the San Mateo Sherriff’s department is focused on training the designated remote pilots to run these rescues without a hitch. With eight UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles/drones) and eight remote pilots, San Mateo aims to create a safer environment for all local beachgoers in the warm months to come.

Photo credit: Thomas Husen; Surfline Saving NSW