Volusia County officials launch new beach safety program

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — WFTV learned Volusia County Beach Patrol is using a new program to find children who get lost on the beach.

Beach Safety Ocean Rescue ordered 20,000 water-proof wrist bands for $600.

When a family arrives at the beach, they’ll be directed to a life guard or officer who will write the child’s name and their parent’s cell phone number on the band.

The county hopes the program will be a quick way to reunite children who get lost on the beach with their families.

"Obviously we want the parents to watch the children, but we all know how children can get away when it's busy on the beach,"
 said Mark Swanson, Volusia County's Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Director.

Parents said the program will make them feel more at ease during their family beach trips.

“Mine actually have been missing for three or four minutes [before], and three or four minutes seems like three or four hours,” said parent Phil Jackson. “I’ve seen it firsthand. It’s a tragedy, you know? It’s awful.”

Last summer, 134 children got lost on the beach.

WFTV