An area of local beach is now safer for swimmers, following the installment of rescue tubes along a portion of Kure Beach.

The flotation devices, which can be used to assist in emergency water rescues, were recently placed in a five-mile stretch of beach south of the Fort Fisher Historic Site. The 10 tubes, complete with imprinted safety instructions, are spaced along the shoreline area, which has limited lifeguard coverage.

“Our No. 1 priority has always been visitor protection and safety,” said Jeffrey Owen, park superintendent at the recreation area. “While we do have lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day, their primary duty is the pedestrian beach, which is a mile in length. However, the four-wheel drive beach, which receives thousands of visitors each year, is an unprotected area with no lifeguards on duty.”

Officials said that already this year, lifeguards have made 10 rescues at the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. There were a total of 18 rescues made there in 2014.

The rescue tubes, which are attached to designated poles, will be accessible from March through November. Wilmington Cape Fear Rotary Club and the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher funded the project.