Rising Tide Effect Hosts 3rd Annual “Water Rescue Demo Day” to Raise Awareness and Inspire the Next Wave of Lifesavers

NEW YORK, NY — July 23, 2026 — Rising Tide Effect, in partnership with NYC Parks Lifeguards,

FDNY Marine, Water Rescue, EMS and Robotics Units, and NYPD Scuba is proud to present Water Rescue Demo Day, a powerful community event dedicated to public education, career exploration, and drowning prevention.

Taking place at Beach 65th in the Rockaways at 2:30 PM, this action-driven demonstration will feature real-time rescue simulations—including rip current and off-hours scenarios—designed to educate the public and showcase the coordinated efforts of New York City’s finest shoreline first responders.

The event will bring together youth participants from Rising Tide Effect’s Swim Corps, the general public, community organizations, and local leaders to engage with rescue professionals and explore career pathways in marine safety, drone operations, lifeguarding, and scuba response.

“The vision behind Water Rescue Demo Day is to bring New Yorkers behind the scenes of water rescue and show what it truly takes to save a life,” said Kaitlin Krause, Founder and Executive Director of Rising Tide Effect. “When people see the teamwork, training, and technology behind every rescue, they gain a deeper appreciation for the first responders who protect our waterways and for the importance of learning water safety before an emergency ever happens. We also hope young people leave inspired to see themselves as the next generation of shoreline guardians. Together with FDNY, NYPD, and NYC Parks Lifeguards, we're helping build a safer, more water-literate New York City.”

“The FDNY is proud to participate in this meaningful community event,” said Fire

Commissioner, Lillian Bonsignore. “Water safety education is critically important,

especially during the busy summer months. We want young people and all New Yorkers to

understand the dangers of rip currents, know how to respond in an emergency, and see

firsthand the teamwork, training and technology required to perform a successful water

rescue. We hope this event not only helps prevent drownings, but also inspires the next

generation to consider careers in public service.”

"Our city is a city of water, and keeping New Yorkers safe will always be our top priority. At NYC Parks, we've worked hard to rebuild our lifeguard corps to its highest level since 2019

and are proud to offer free Learn to Swim classes year-round teaching thousands of

children lifesaving water safety skills, including the expansion of our summer swim lessons

to 18 outdoor pools this year", said NYC Parks Commissioner, Tricia Shimamura.

"We're grateful for Rising Tide Effect's advocacy to promote water safety and inspire the next generation of first responders through this demonstration event, as well as the

partnership of our fellow city agencies who ensure the safety of New Yorkers at our

beaches."

The event will include:

● Hands-on water safety education

● Interagency career Q&A with the FDNY, NYPD, and Parks

● Live narrated simulations featuring drones and robotics and lifeguard teams

● Interactive displays of rescue equipment and gear

Water Rescue Demo Day serves not only as a celebration of the city’s public safety heroes but also as a call to action for broader access to water safety education, especially in communities disproportionately affected by drowning.

Rain date - July 30, 2026

About Rising Tide Effect

Rising Tide Effect is a nonprofit organization dedicated to drowning prevention and equitable access to water safety education. Through free swim programs, public education campaigns, and youth workforce development, RTE is changing the tide on one of the world’s most preventable public health crises.

About the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

NYC Parks is the steward of more than 30,000 acres of land — 14 percent of New York City — including more than 5,000 individual properties ranging from Coney Island Beach and Central Park to community gardens and Greenstreets. We operate more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds, 1,800 basketball courts, 550 tennis courts, 65 public pools, 51 recreational facilities, 15 nature centers, 14 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches. We care for 1,200 monuments and 23 historic house museums. We look after 666,000 street trees, and five million more in parks. We are New York City's principal providers of recreational and athletic facilities and programs. We are also home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals.

About the FDNY

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) is the largest Fire Department in the United States and is universally recognized as the world's busiest and most highly skilled emergency response agency. Since 1865, the FDNY has protected New Yorkers and visitors by providing fire protection, emergency medical care, fire prevention, public safety education and other critical services across the five boroughs. The Department has more than 17,000 employees, including approximately 11,000 firefighters and fire officers, 4,500 EMTs, paramedics, and EMS officers, and 2,000 civilian employees. Operating from 218 firehouses, 39 EMS stations and additional support facilities, the FDNY maintains a

fleet of more than 1,300 fire apparatus, ambulances, specialty vehicles and fireboats.