NASHVILLE — The YMCA of Middle Tennessee announced in May 2026 a full rollout of the AngelEye drowning detection system across all 12 of its family wellness centers following a successful pilot in late 2025. The system uses patented motion-activated underwater and above-water cameras to analyze swimmer movements and send real-time alerts to safety personnel if a potential swimmer in distress is detected.
Installations began in May 2026 at the Sumner County, Franklin, and Robertson County Family YMCAs. Each installation will undergo up to 30 days of testing to allow the system to gather data and adapt before being fully integrated into lifeguarding procedures. The YMCA of Middle Tennessee expects to complete installation at all its indoor pools by the end of 2026.
"AngelEye is a proactive tool we are excited to incorporate to support our lifeguards, but it is not designed to replace them," said Holly Sanders, executive director of risk management for the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. She added, "Providing a safe environment for our members and guests is always our top priority, and this is just another important investment to help ensure individuals who visit our centers feel safe in our pools."
The YMCA of Middle Tennessee is the second YMCA association in the United States to deploy this type of drowning detection technology and the third U.S. organization overall to adopt AngelEye. The system operates on a closed, secure network to protect swimmer privacy, and images are used solely for drowning detection, response, and lifeguard training.
"AngelEye is designed to support, not replace, trained lifeguards through real-time monitoring and alerts when a potential swimmer in distress is detected," said Gianluca Marcato, director of operations at AngelEye.