Panama City Beach lifeguards will get some extra help this summer. The city’s Fire and Rescue Department recently teamed up with Gulf Coast State College to host a joint training exercise with unmanned, remotely operated water-rescue vehicles to improve safety and reduce response time to swimmers needing help.

Called EMILY — short for Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard — the crafts are equipped with sonar technology, can skim across the water at about 35 mph and are about half the size of a small canoe. Wil Spivey, the city’s beach safety director, says EMILY devices will allow crews to quickly transport flotation devices to struggling swimmers before a lifeguard could reach them.

This story also features expert opinions, business briefs and people in the news: Leonardo Helicopters; William Bullock; Eman El-Sheikh

 

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