(11:00 a.m. Time Certain) A Resolution By The Board Of County Commissioners Of Pasco County, Florida, Commending Mia Watkins, Finley Watkins, And Regan Barron, Lifeguards With Pasco County Parks, Recreation, And Natural Resources Department, For Their Life Saving Efforts At Anclote River Park

1:13:23We can do R S three?

1:13:24Yes. So for resolution number three, um would Ms. uh Mia Watkins, Finley Watkins, and Reagan Barron please step up to the podium. And anyone else I guess that is here for the lifeguards? Um Resolution.

1:13:46Mm-hmm. I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Resolution number twenty-three-two zero four, a resolution by the Board of County Commissioners, O Pasco County, Florida, commending Mia Watkins. Um Finley Watkins and Reagan Barron, lifeguards with Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department for their life-saving efforts at Anclote River Park. Whereas lifeguards play a critical role in ensuring the safety and well-being of beachgoers and pool visitors, their knowledge of water safety, consistent surveillance, and ability

1:14:17to react quickly to potential hazards makes them an invaluable asset to our aquatics team. And Raz, Mia Watkins, Finley Watkins, and Reagan Barron have been lifeguards for Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources for multiple seasons at Both Sunwest Park and Anclock River Park. And whereas on Wednesday, July 19th, 2023, Mia and Finley were lifeguarding at Ancloque River Park when a moment of crisis emerged in the designated swim area when a visitor swimming experienced an epileptic an

1:14:47epileptic attack. Mia and Finley swiftly initiated safety protocol and rescued the patron from the water. And RAS on August 5th, 2023, Mia, Finley, and Reagan were on duty as lifeguards at Anclote River Park when a two-year-old child approached the deeper portion of the designated swim area. Became submerged and lost consciousness. NRAS Lifeguards responded and found the two-year-old child unresponsive and not breathing. NRAS, Mia Watkins, Finley Watkins, and Reagan

1:15:17Barron worked together to perform life-saving measures, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and rescue breathing. And RAS, their quick response and immediate action resulted in a successful recovery of the young patron and accessi successful life saving situation. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida sorry.

1:15:39Mm-mm.

1:15:40That said board hereby recognizes Mia Watkins, Finley Watkins, and Reagan Barron for their heroic efforts in saving the life of a Pasco County citizen at Ancloak River Park.

1:15:50Okay.

1:16:11Still have

1:16:11a little piece left.

1:16:15With the Porn President voting this day of tw uh September nineteenth, twenty twenty three. Sorry, I couldn't get through the whole thing. Move to approve.

1:16:22They told me they save lives, they don't like to speak. So motion to approve, second. I

1:16:27cannot

1:16:27tell

1:16:27you all all in favor say aye.

1:16:29Aye.

1:16:32Apologize. I can Brian Taylor, recreation manager, I cannot tell you how frightening it is when you get that text or your or a call um that there was an incident at a beach or a or a pool. So um obviously this would this ended in a very good outcome and I just praise God that you three ladies were there and um We do a resolution and we say thank you, but thank you really isn't enough. But we we do thank you. It was it takes a lot of bravery. You gotta act quickly, you gotta keep a level

1:17:03head when you're um in those situations and you ladies obviously did that. So we thank you so much.

1:17:14Commissioner Starkey.

1:17:16Well I wanna personally thank you. Uh you know I have uh my brother was a lifeguard and I know I know uh how tough that can be. So um and what a responsible position that is. So congratulations on you all for stepping up and serving your community in that capacity. Would you like to talk about the incident or talk to the county commission in any way? It's good experience. Good practice.

1:17:42It was definitely a scary and well scary opportunity, but it was definitely life changing for all of us. And we just want to say thank you. So Thank

1:17:50you.

1:17:50Commissioner Oakley?

1:17:51Yeah. I certainly thank you for saving one of our citizens' lives and them being a part of our community still. Because of your good works. Um

1:18:03Saying thank you doesn't seem like enough. It really does. So from my heart. I certainly appreciate everything y'all have done and to help our citizens in those areas. So thank you.

1:18:15Commissioner

1:18:15Weightman? Thank you, Chairman Mariano. Yes, what are how how old are y'all? Seventeen. So to the to the to the parent and taking on taking on a job like being a lifeguard. You never know when. You never know you're called service. There's a bunch of guys in white uniforms back there who who live what you guys do every day. And uh thank you for for for taking on the risk, because you guys put yourself at risk too to save others and to the parents if any parents parents out here. Uh good job.

1:18:46I hope my daughter uh as she gets older takes on a a a job like this and becomes responsible and pays attention and cares about community and her fellow men. So ladies, thank you all. Yeah, ladies, I what a what a great story. I

1:19:00mean Nikki and I both getting choked up over it. I mean it's it's it's like it's uh just like phenomenal what you did, what you went through. And To take the responsibility than to execute is tremendous. Um Chief Perez, I think we got like three recruits possibly coming up here, get them in the works, right? Uh but we wish you all the best and thank you. I mean saving a life, how great is that?

1:19:21Yeah.

1:19:21God bless you.

1:19:27I also want to say I I've seen recently I've been reading about lifeguards and a lot of communities don't have lifeguards. And people swim at their own risk. So you know, this is at taxpayer expense that we have lifeguards and this and I'm really grateful that we that we do. We

1:19:43were one of the fortunate counties that probably had one the most lifeguards in um almost a whole state. So we're really proud of them. Um thirty five years I've been here. Um and thank God for these lifeguards. We've we've done well. We haven't lost anyone, so we're proud of that. All right,

1:20:03let's get our pictures.

1:20:24Right right next.

1:20:26Okay everybody, right here first, please.

1:20:28Wait in. Wait,

1:20:29wait.

1:20:33Congratulations.

1:20:36Is that your mom?

1:20:39Oh, that's her aunt.

1:20:42Right here. Thank you.

1:20:49Awesome. Thank you.

1:20:57Yeah.

1:21:01Okay.

1:21:04It mumm.

1:21:09Ma'am,

1:21:10coming in handy for me today.

1:21:14Just done.

1:21:17Turn the corner and smash into the wall.