When disaster strikes, a quick response is necessary in order to save lives. In most cases, there’s a limited window of time for responders to rescue survivors, and often this window shrinks as it takes firefighters, police, and first responders use a great deal of time to gather information and plot a rescue strategy.
Fortunately, there’s an easy, time-efficient method of gathering data during and after a disaster: UAV search and rescue. Police UAVs are fast becoming a trusted method of disaster management: With a UAV, police and other rescue workers have the ability to get real information about a disaster right away, maximizing the time available to perform search and rescue operations. Jerry Stuckey, a veteran firefighter and CEO of FireFlight UAS, an Oklahoma-based drone company, notes how long it can take to get information after a disaster using traditional means: “It’s usually 45 minutes to an hour after you arrive on scene on an incident before you get real information. We can have [a UAV] up in the air in three minutes.”
In addition to offering a speedy method of obtaining information after a disaster, UAV search and rescue also enhances the safety of police officials and first responders. FireFlight police UAVs offer the option for responders to stay back until more information is gathered and the situation can be assessed properly. In just a few minutes, a police UAV will give disaster management officials the whole picture in real time. By using a UAV, police and other officials will be more capable of responding quickly and saving more lives. UAV search and rescue also offers a safer approach to disaster management because a drone, unlike a helicopter, won’t upset the scene. Most helicopters stir up debris and dust that can compromise a scene and increase the dangers to survivors and rescuers alike, but that’s not the case with police UAVs. When emergency officials send in a UAV, police can be certain that the ground won’t be disturbed and that they’ll get an accurate picture of what needs to be done to save lives.
