FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – A new community group in Fernandina Beach is stepping up this summer to help prevent drownings and keep local beaches safer.
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The Amelia Island Water Watchers was created after a 38-year-old man and a 5-year-old child died in separate drowning incidents within the last few months.
Amanda Davis, a former paramedic and the group’s founder, said she started the organization the day after a child drowned at Seaside Park earlier this month.
“It was my way of trying to make a difference,” she said.
In addition to the lifeguards already stationed at some beaches, the group plans to have volunteer members watching the waters as an extra set of eyes. This community effort aims to spot potential dangers early and respond quickly.
The group also plans to distribute safety kits that include cards with instructions on what to do if someone is in trouble at the beach, lanyards with emergency contact information, and whistles.
So far, 85 people in the area have expressed interest in volunteering, and Davis is eager to get them patrolling the beaches.
“Look for the helper, and water watchers is that opportunity to be the helper,” Davis said. “So I think it’s a wonderful way to hopefully prevent any future tragedies on our beaches and make them safer and enjoyable for our families.”
Davis has a meeting scheduled with Ocean Rescue and the fire department to discuss how the group can collaborate without overstepping boundaries. She also hopes to partner with local CPR classes in the future.
