Post by GJUK on Mar 19, 2017 22:14:15 GMT -8
This week, DJI released a report documenting at least 59 people that have been saved from life-threatening conditions in 18 separate incidents around the globe.
More than one-third of those rescued were saved by drones operated by civilian bystanders and volunteers offering their services to help professional rescue personnel, indicating that the widespread adoption of personal drones offers a concrete benefit to public safety. As drones have become more widely used by public safety agencies as well as individuals, the rate of lifesaving drone work now averages almost one per week.
DJI's report is based on a survey of media reports collected from around the world, and almost surely undercounts the number of lifesaving activities undertaken with drones. It includes rescues made on land, on water and in flooded areas, as drones found missing people, brought them water and supplies, and in several cases brought them life jackets or rescue ropes.
PLEASE NOTE: Flying any aerial vehicle in a disaster area can limit the ability for the Emergency Services to conduct their rescue operation unhindered. Make sure that you have permission from whomever is coordinating the effort before taking to the skies. There have been instances where fire retardant delivering aircraft have had to divert due to reports of drones over wildfires in California. If we're getting involved we want to save lives, not risk them unnecessarily.
As usual, the most important thing to take with you when you fly is your common sense.
More than one-third of those rescued were saved by drones operated by civilian bystanders and volunteers offering their services to help professional rescue personnel, indicating that the widespread adoption of personal drones offers a concrete benefit to public safety. As drones have become more widely used by public safety agencies as well as individuals, the rate of lifesaving drone work now averages almost one per week.
DJI's report is based on a survey of media reports collected from around the world, and almost surely undercounts the number of lifesaving activities undertaken with drones. It includes rescues made on land, on water and in flooded areas, as drones found missing people, brought them water and supplies, and in several cases brought them life jackets or rescue ropes.
"The clear conclusion is that drones are regularly saving lives around the world. This is occurring even though professional rescue crews are just beginning to adopt UAS technology, and in many cases are relying on bystanders or volunteers to provide lifesaving assistance," concludes the report from DJI's Policy & Legal Affairs Department. "DJI is at the forefront in efforts to develop best practices and optimal standards for firefighters, rescue services and other first responders to integrate drones into their command protocols. As these efforts continue, we expect the number of lives saved by drones to continue to grow."
Check out the full report: Lives Saved: A Survey of Drones in Action
PLEASE NOTE: Flying any aerial vehicle in a disaster area can limit the ability for the Emergency Services to conduct their rescue operation unhindered. Make sure that you have permission from whomever is coordinating the effort before taking to the skies. There have been instances where fire retardant delivering aircraft have had to divert due to reports of drones over wildfires in California. If we're getting involved we want to save lives, not risk them unnecessarily.
As usual, the most important thing to take with you when you fly is your common sense.