Imagine, if you will, a world where a swimmer in distress in the Gulf can, within 90 seconds of a call going out, receive a life preserver dropped from a self-launched drone.

Or a beachgoer in Orange Beach suffering a heart attack can get an AED on site that relays instructions to bystanders on how to use it until first responders arrive.

That world could come to Orange Beach in less than a year thanks to a new program through Motorola Solutions and Brinc, a Seattle-based company specializing in public safety drones.

“As soon as that call comes in and is put in the computer, the drone will launch itself automatically,” Orange Beach Police Chief Trent Johnson said. “We don't even have to tell it to go. It will go.”

And, it’s free?

“Terms are one-year pre-trial, no obligation,” Johnson said. “Cancel at any time.”

Johnson said the drone will use Motorola technology already in place with the city’s police and fire departments.

“The drone itself is a reprogram that does integrate seamlessly with Motorola,” Johnson said. “The drone as a first responder program is an autonomous, self-launching device that, when certain calls come in through our dispatch, the drone will launch and immediately go to the location.”

Fire Chief Jeff Smith said the drone could be an invaluable tool giving his crews the ability to begin assessing a situation within 90 seconds of receiving calls from accidents or structure fires.

“As with most public safety drone programs, it will provide a video feed that can be monitored by dispatch and responders,” Smith said. “This provides the responders the potential to start making assignments and even tactical decisions before they even arrive.”

This new system will complement the city’s Community Connect program where homeowners and businesses can log in to register their structures’ layouts, floors and even what pets are present so crews can access while en route.

“Technically, the drone would give us information from the outside of the building, and Community Connect would provide the interior details that we may need, giving responders a much better idea of what they are dealing with before they arrive,” Smith said.

It can also guide crews on how fast to respond, Johnson said. Instead of first responders racing to the scene to assess the seriousness of the call, the on-site drone can let crews see the severity of the situation and gauge responses accordingly.

“We can see if this is just a surfer who's out there on a double-deck kite and having a good time,” Johnson said. “We can slow our responses. We don't have to drive as fast to try and get to emergencies if we can put eyes on it.”

Johnson said the building of the infrastructure will start in January with an eye on starting the service in June 2027, ideally just in time for the summer season.

The life preserver and AED examples are just two of about 20 items the drone can launch with, a decision it makes based on the nature of the call, Johnson said.