Collier County expanding lifeguard program to improve safety along the Gulf Coast

Gulf Coast beaches are known for their soft sand, crashing waves, and rows of umbrellas, but lifeguards have been a rare sight – until now. Vanderbilt Beach has introduced lifeguards, becoming the first beach south of Sarasota to offer this service. “The moment they hear that the need for service, they can respond immediately,” said Tony Camps, assistant chief of special operations for North Collier Fire Rescue. The lifeguards undergo extensive training, starting in the pool. “We start with just basic lifeguard American Red Cross deep water rescue, which is seven feet or deeper,” said Kelly Heinemeyer, lifeguard leader two for North Collier Fire Rescue. Plus, there's more training specific to beach conditions. “The beach is a lot harder. You have current, you have marine life. You have all sorts of people coming to the beach,” Heinemeyer said. The training includes working with rescue boards and swimming against a rip current simulator. “There is a number of emergencies that arise in this area. Medical emergencies, missing persons, missing children. And most recently, we saw sadly that drownings can occur in our area,” Camps said. Currently, Vanderbilt Beach has four lifeguards on duty: two stationed in chairs, one patrolling on a four-wheeler, and one assisting. North Collier Fire Rescue plans to add two more chairs and a tower in the coming weeks. “The project actually goes all the way from the Lee County line down to our limits with the City of Naples. We have 11 towers, permitted with the county,” Camps said. The initiative aims to inspire other Gulf Coast communities to adopt similar programs. “We’re looking to inspire the agencies around us to follow suit,” Camps said. When asked if Lee County has plans to add lifeguards, officials stated they do not have any plans at this time. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.