This summer, drones will fly above state park beaches, aiding lifeguards in spotting potential dangers — including sharks — and even assisting swimmers in distress.

Long Island

State park beaches on Long Island are introducing drones to support lifeguards in monitoring the shoreline for potential dangers, such as sharks, and to assist swimmers who may be in distress. The drones are equipped to drop flotation devices to swimmers in need and will work alongside traditional lifeguard teams.

Officials have deployed 28 drones for shark patrol following a recent shark bite incident. Additional safety measures include virtual reality headsets for public education on rip currents and the use of boats and helicopters for increased patrol. Beachgoers have responded positively to the added layer of safety provided by these technological advancements.

Drones to patrol state park beaches for July 4 weekend

As we get closer to the busy 4th of July weekend, we're learning more about what's being done to keep you safe at the beach. News 12's Kevin Vesey is at Jones Beach right now, and Kevin, looks like swimmers and lifeguards will get some new high-tech help this weekend. Yeah, Joe, this is some pretty cool and very interesting technology we're talking about here. So this summer, drones are going to be patrolling the Long Island shoreline alongside the lifeguards who are already here, and those drones are gonna be doing a couple of things. They're going to be out there looking for sharks, but they're also gonna be able to help swimmers in distress. It can happen in an instant. A swimmer gets caught in a rip current or is struggling to stay afloat. Then suddenly, a flotation device drops from the sky. It came from a drone like this. The life-saving device is coming to state park beaches this summer. The drones are taking over everything nowadays, so you drop one in the water, throw me a little buoy, I think it'd be nice. Ahead of the busy 4th of July weekend, state parks officials say they'll employ technology to keep people safe. 28 drones will be on shark patrol after a woman was bitten last week at Jones Beach, likely by a juvenile sand tiger shark. Virtual reality headsets are also being used to teach the public about the dangers of rip currents. They'll be available during water safety outreach events, and one large drone that can drop personal flotation devices will be assigned to park police. Beachgoers like the idea of having that added layer of safety when they're in the water. That is a great idea, I think, so they have technology and they must use it. So that's great. And earlier this week, Nassau County officials announced that they will also have drones in the sky searching the waters for sharks. The county also said that they will have additional boats and helicopters on patrol to keep everybody safe. For now, that is the very latest here at Jones Beach in Nassau County. Kevin Vesey, News 12.

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