Mackenzie (left) and Thea Fairmaid-Shevloff point out a water rescue tube located at Edgewater on Porpoise Bay. During the past several weeks, the Rotary Club of the Sunshine Coast has worked with local governments to place 30 tubes in popular water-recreation spots up and down the Coast. Designed for competent swimmers, rescue tubes can be pulled off the stand and rescuers wrap the loop at the end of the strap around their arm and shoulder. Once they reach the victim, they pass the rescue tube to them (without making contact) then swim back to shore side by side, supported by the tube. More than 600 tubes have been installed across North America by Rotary and other organizations, and they have already saved more than 200 lives. The tubes were paid for by the club with help from a Rotary District Grant. For more information, including videos on how to use the tubes, go to rescuetubefoundation.org.
