Scores of rescue tubes have been placed at beaches across Maui to assist in volunteer rescues. Several years ago, Kelsey Marks, a visitor on Maui, used a rescue tube to save two people in separate incidents on the same day. Maui News archive photo/Matthew Thayer

A simple piece of life-saving equipment has been praised for helping to rescue hundreds of people from the ocean.

Rescue tubes made of closed cell foam are durable and buoyant, and they can keep people afloat until help arrives, especially in places where there are no lifeguards on duty.

Maui County Ocean Safety spokesperson Chris Stankis said some 175 ocean safety rescue tubes have been installed in locations around Maui County through a program partnered with the Rotary Club of Kihei-Wailea to finance and maintain them.

“These tubes have been used by bystanders in dozens of rescues since their installation,” Stankis said.

Branch Lotspeich, executive director and co-founder of the Rescue Tube Foundation, said they put rescue tubes on Kauai in 2010 with the idea of protecting would-be rescuers.

He said the floatation device can easily support three adults, including the person drowning and the rescuer, until water safety officials arrive.

“We know of several hundred rescues,” Lotspeich said.

Kalani Vierra, president of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, said rescue tubes are a good idea.

“It’s something people can do that doesn’t cost millions of dollars,” he said.

The Rotary Club of Kihei-Wailea has been helping to install rescue tubes on Maui beaches in areas where there are no lifeguards and for when there are no lifeguards on duty.

The tubes have written instructions for volunteer rescuers including advising them to first call “911” for help.

Rotary Club officials said they continue to maintain rescue tubes that were installed at Keawakapu Beach and as well as the Kalama, Charlie Young, Cove Park, and Kamaole I, II, III beaches in 2017.

The Rotary Club is also providing rescue tubes to beaches in West Maui, where people on the West side maintain them, said Al Weiland, co-president of the Kihei-Wailea Rotary Club.

“We received a great letter, saying the rescue tube was instrumental in rescuing somebody,” he said.

Lotspeich advised people to frequent beaches where there are lifeguards.