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Drones Dive Deep for River Rescues in London
4 Sep
Summary
- London ambulance crews use underwater drones for water rescue.
- Drones feature cameras, lights, and a grab arm for retrieval.
- Approximately 400 people drown annually in the UK, many in inland waters.
London's ambulance service has introduced advanced underwater drones to aid in rescue operations across its waterways. The Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) now operates four remotely operated vehicles, designed for swift deployment in emergencies involving rivers, lakes, canals, and reservoirs.
These sophisticated drones are equipped with cameras and lights, allowing paramedics to visually search underwater from the safety of the bank. A crucial feature is a grab arm capable of securing a casualty and pulling them toward safety. The technology can be operational in under two minutes and has a range of up to 200 metres.
Additional capabilities include providing real-time data on water depth and temperature, complemented by sonar for subsurface searching. Paramedics emphasize the critical nature of time in drowning incidents, as survival chances diminish rapidly without oxygen. The UK sees approximately 400 drowning incidents each year, with a significant number occurring in inland water bodies.
While not eliminating all risks associated with water rescues, these drones offer a vital new tool for search and retrieval, concurrently minimizing danger to the rescue teams themselves.
