Скачать или смотреть American Lifeguard Applauds Breakthrough: Zero Beach Drownings in 2025 Thanks to Drown Zero Program

American Lifeguard Association Applauds Breakthrough in Brevard County: Zero Beach Drownings in 2025 Thanks to Drown Zero Program

The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) applauds the remarkable achievement by Brevard County: no beach drownings reported in 2025, as enabled by the Drown Zero flotation-device program and the heightened public awareness efforts in which ALA is proud to partner.

In a recent televised interview, Wyatt Werneth, ALA National Spokesperson and former Brevard Ocean Rescue Chief, discussed the lifesaving impact of Drown Zero stations deployed along Brevard’s coastline. These stations, equipped with bright orange life rings and automated alert systems that notify first responders when a ring is removed, serve as a critical safety net for beachgoers, especially during hours when lifeguards are not on duty.

Werneth underscored that while lifeguards carry out heroic and essential work during staffed hours, there remains vulnerability in unguarded times—vulnerability that Drown Zero helps mitigate. “When lifeguards are off duty, these stations are on duty,” he stated. Several rescues have already been credited to the program; in October alone, more than 20 ring uses were logged across multiple locations.

ALA’s role in this effort has been to support promotion, advocacy, and professional visibility—bringing national attention to Brevard’s success as a model for coastal safety. While the ALA is not the operator of Drown Zero, we are deeply committed to amplifying its message, encouraging communities everywhere to adopt similar strategies, and helping integrate best practices for lifeguard training and drowning prevention.

This news follows the local coverage of the program’s success—with a full report available from MyNews13: “Drown Zero floatation devices help save lives in Brevard County”.

ALA sees in Brevard’s 2025 statistics not just a single-year success, but proof of concept: that combining lifeguard operations, public access to flotation devices, and community awareness can drive drowning rates toward zero. As Werneth often emphasizes, such systems act as “force multipliers” for lifeguards—extending protection beyond their hours.

Looking Ahead

The American Lifeguard Association remains committed to advancing comprehensive drowning-prevention strategies built on three essential pillars:

Community education and awareness initiatives – expanding outreach through programs such as Learn To Swim America, which empowers families and communities to build lifelong water-safety skills.

Robust national lifeguard programs and training – helping ensure that lifeguards are prepared, certified, and equipped to respond effectively in every aquatic environment.

Strategic public-safety infrastructure – supporting the installation and promotion of Drown Zero-style flotation stations and other lifesaving innovations that extend protection beyond staffed hours.

Together, these pillars form the foundation of ALA’s ongoing mission to reduce drowning incidents nationwide and inspire local partnerships that make every body of water safer.

We invite media, municipalities, coastal safety organizations, and local advocates to join us in spotlighting this success and replicating it. Brevard County’s 2025 outcome demonstrates that with the right tools, strong partnerships, and sustained public vigilance, zero drownings is an achievable goal.