Stranded in UAE desert? Rescue chopper is a button away

 If you are stranded in the middle of the desert or stuck in the mountainous areas, help is now just a button away. National Search and Rescue Centre (NSRC) has launched NSRC UAE - an app with SOS service. A person in distress needs to just press the button and a rescue chopper or police will be on its way in minutes.

"The app is basically an example of how technology can be used in search and rescue operations," Hoor Saeed Abushubs Shebs, project manager of the app, NSRC, told Khaleej Times.

After downloading the app, one needs to sign up with details like name, email ID, phone number and national ID number. Whenever going on a trip, the user should register details of the destination of the journey, route, starting and end date and time of journey.

"Information will be saved with the NSRC operations team. In case any emergency happens, the person can just press SOS button on the main screen of the app. The operations team will be alerted and as per requirement of the situation, a helicopter is sent or we coordinate with the concerned police station. With this app, we want to cut time in sending help out. Once we know the details of place, number of people and such things in advance, we will be better prepared to handle that situation," she said and urged users to feed data a day ahead of their actual journey.

The app has other services like 'awareness' - a reminder about maritime safety, essentials, etc.

"Even when someone is in the middle of a road and car runs out of fuel, they can reach us. We will coordinate with the authorities to send help immediately."

How does the NSRC app work?

>User needs to download the app and sign up with details, including name, email ID, phone number and national ID number

>When going on a trip, users should enter the details of the journey one day ahead

>Details like destination, route, starting and end date and time should be entered

>In case of any emergency, the user can press the SOS button on the app, which will sent an alert to the National Search and Rescue Centre

>The operations team will send a helicopter or coordinate with the police, depending on the requirement  

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com

Ashwani Kumar

I am a newspaperman from the emirate of Abu Dhabi. A journalist at heart. I get my stories from the streets. A south Indian born in the Hindi heartland, I easily connect with people from different nationalities and cultures. I am calm like a monk, sensitive and very patient reporter. On the ground, I cover a range of topics related to community, health, embassy, tourism, transport, business and sports. I will go out on a leg to do what’s right and stand by what I believe in.