What is your name?
Angela Ray
What is your lifesaving agency/organization?
City of Fernandina Beach Recreation Dept. (COFB) / Amelia Island Lifesaving Association (AILA)
How long have you been with both organizations?
COFB 10 years, AILA 5 years
What is the mission of each agency, and how do they prevent drowning and promote water safety?
COFB conducts Ocean Rescues, has pool lifeguards, uses the Red Cross Lifeguard Certification, conducts swim Lessons, and has a Junior Lifeguard Programs. The Amelia Island Lifesaving Association is committed to promoting and sponsoring activities that prevent drowning in our community.
How will the rescue board help your agencies carryout its mission?
The rescue board is being used to train lifeguards and junior lifeguards. The board is used by lifeguards to patrol open water swim competitions and junior lifeguard competitions.
How did you find about that H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco was going to donate a rescue boards to you organization? What was it like hearing the news?
Henry Reyes contacted me and I was very excited and extremely grateful that the City of Fernandina Beach was blessed with such an awesome piece of equipment.
How did you feel when you received the rescue board?
Extremely grateful and I raced the board in a 6 mile prone paddle board race the weekend after we received it at a Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue Competition fundraiser. That was brutal but fun!
How have you used the rescue board? Besides racing it, We used it to keep our junior lifeguards safe at a competition in Jacksonville Beach when the surf was a little too big and the junior lifeguards were pushing the limits!
What is the best thing about the rescue board?
The Princess of Monaco paddle board is comfortable, light weight, fast, and has lots of handles for real rescue situations.
How has the rescue board prevented drowning in your area? How has it made a difference?
We used it to keep our junior lifeguards safe at a competition in Jacksonville Beach when the surf was a little too big and the junior lifeguards were pushing the limits!
What does drowning prevention mean to you, and how do you prevent drowning?
The Amelia Island Lifeguard Assc. along with the City of Fernandina Beach, FL uses a multi-faceted approach to drowning prevention. We provide swim lessons (with financial aid), junior lifeguard programs, drowning prevents workshops, and guarded facilities and beaches.
What would you like to say to H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco?
Thank you so much for honoring our small community with such an incredible piece of lifesaving equipment. We are committed to the prevention of drowning in our community and we appreciate your contribution to our efforts.