Getac, a rugged mobile computing manufacturer, has come to the aid of the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team (CBMRT) with the donation of powerful rugged mobile devices, along with accompanying accessories from its partners. The new solutions replace the CBMRT’s original IT equipment – which was lost during a devastating fire at its base of operations in Merthyr Tydfil – and provide a significant technology upgrade in the process.
The CBMRT is a voluntary organisation covering the central Brecon Beacons, including South Wales’ highest mountain, Pen y Fan, Cribyn and Corn Du, as well as the Ystradfellte waterfalls. It responds to over 120 incidents a year, with rescues often taking place in extremely challenging conditions. Many areas of the national park are also very remote, which can make effective coordination between rescue teams difficult without the right equipment.
The ZX70 fully rugged Android tablets and F110 fully rugged Windows tablets donated by Getac both feature a host of innovative technologies that greatly enhance CBMRT capabilities during time sensitive operations. Getac’s revolutionary Lumibond® touchscreen technology means rescuers can view and operate the devices in all weather conditions, from bright sunlight to heavy rain, and even whilst wearing gloves. Powerful inbuilt 4G LTE connectivity also enables team members to remotely log-in to the SARCALL incident management platform from any location, where they can liaise with other rescue parties, coordinate searches and provide real-time updates.
Secure vehicle docking stations with compact and robust Zirkona mounting brackets were also donated by Gamber-Johnson, while Lind Electronics provided high quality, rugged vehicle power adaptors that together meet the requirements of the most demanding and harsh environments. These have been used to create fully integrated solutions in both the front and rear of the CBMRT’s three new response vehicles, allowing the devices to be safely used when in transit, then detached and taken into the field once teams are at the scene of an incident.
“When we’re trying locate a person in need of our help, the last thing we want to worry about is our devices,” says Penny Brockman, Team Leader, Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team. “Mountain rescue can be very hard on equipment, but our Getac tablets and accompanying accessories perform flawlessly in even the toughest conditions, meaning we can stay focussed on the task at hand, which is saving lives.”
“Technology is playing an increasingly important role in frontline emergency response and when the CBMRT lost all of its equipment in the fire, both ourselves and our partners were more than happy to step in,” says Chris Bye, President, Getac UK Ltd. “With the new rugged solutions in place, rescue teams have everything they need to communicate and coordinate effectively in the field, giving the best possible chance of success.”
