Latest news with #DavidVaughan
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New lifeguard services launch at WaterColor Beach
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — Beachgoers in WaterColor will see new faces on the sand starting Tuesday, as the South Walton Fire District (SWFD) officially launches professional beach lifeguard services in partnership with the WaterColor Community Homeowners Association. The multi-year agreement, fully funded by the WaterColor Community Association, ensures daily lifeguard coverage from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours during peak periods and hazardous surf conditions. The initiative aims to strengthen beach safety in an area previously without on-site lifeguard presence. 'Our partnership with SWFD allows us to elevate the safety and well-being of both residents and guests enjoying WaterColor's beaches,' said Jacob Marshall, Executive Director of the WaterColor Community Association. 'We're grateful for the SWFD's professionalism and leadership, both in forming this partnership and in their ongoing efforts that make a lifesaving impact across our county.' The new WaterColor towers are part of a broader expansion this season, with SWFD adding three new towers since the 2025 Beach Safety Season began on March 1, bringing the district's total to 17. 'Another community has come on-board recognizing the positive impact lifeguards can have,' said David Vaughan, SWFD Beach Safety Director. 'This community is giving us the opportunity to increase our footprint, provide better education, and improve response times. It's even sweeter this year to see these additional towers come to fruition as we are celebrating our 20th Season of Beach Safety in South Walton.' Beach safety officials are encouraging all visitors to familiarize themselves with South Walton's beach flag warning system and to heed posted safety guidelines. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
South Walton Fire District reports zero drownings in 2024
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – South Walton Fire Rescue officials say expanded water safety education efforts seem to have paid off. In 2023, lifeguards performed 141 water rescues. 4 people drowned off South Walton beaches. 3 of those occurred during a 16-day stretch in June with extreme rip currents. Last year lifeguards performed only 60 water rescues, and there were no drownings. That was with a 26% increase in the number of beach-goers. Beach Safety Director David Vaughan says lifeguards create a safer beach environment through education. Merriam Cherry Street Elementary School's STEAM class receives makeover 'We've had a lot of significant rescues. It's really for people who come in and aren't really aware of how dangerous it can be out there and they get themselves into trouble. We're really good at getting them out of that trouble.' Vaughn says the key is to start educating kids, and the Junior Lifeguard Program helps. More than 200 children aged 9 to 16 learn CPR and first aid training. To learn more about the Junior Lifeguard Program, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
