Remotely piloted drones equipped with flotation devices will help New York City lifeguards rescue swimmers this summer, city officials said Saturday.
The addition of drones has left the city facing a staffing shortage among lifeguards, who are expected to close miles of the city’s beaches over the holiday weekend.
The NYPD, FDNY, City Parks Department and other agencies are working together to deploy drones to beaches and monitor weather for distressed swimmers this weekend, officials confirmed.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry announced the plan on Friday, calling the use of drones a “game changer.”
