Volusia County, FL-Beach Safety officials here are teaming up with experts at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to test drones for possible use for patrol and emergency searches. ERAU Professor Joe Ceretta says the partnership includes exploring the use of drones to locate swimmers in distress before sending a lifeguard out to find them in the water. That could speed the arrival of rescuers to the right area.
Ceretta says using a drone also could be a cost-cutting tool, as currently a manned helicopter is used in searches for swimmers in distress.
Ceretta also says drones eventually could be used to drop emergency equipment like a life preserver.
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