Royal Life Saving Society UK deploys drone technology to support water rescues
The Royal Life Saving Society is launching the UK’s first water rescue Emergency Drone Piloting Award. The water safety and lifeguarding society have partnered with Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems and Drone specialists Eagle Eye Innovations, to create a unique water rescue award.
The Emergency Response Drone Pilot Award offers candidates the opportunity to learn the skills, technical knowledge, and legalities of using and operating a drone to assist with water-based rescues. The drones are waterproof, specially designed for rescues with the aim to find a person in difficulty and deploy a torpedo buoy or inflatable lifesaving device before a lifeguard or the Emergency Services reach the casualty.
Chief Executive Officer Robert Gofton shared what this course hopes to achieve: “We are excited to be working on this pioneering new rescue award. Concerningly accidental water-related deaths increased in 2021. If using the latest technologies, such as drones, can preserve life until rescuers can reach a casualty, it can only lead to saving more lives and stopping families from suffering tragedy of losing a loved one.”
Gofton continues:- “The award is ideally suited to emergency services such as fire rescue and police, alongside local authorities, open water venues, triathlon clubs, canal & river trusts, landowners, river rescue, and SAR companies.
Here, DJI drone rescue map tracks assisted rescues worldwide.