Dubai Police tackles 12,984 rescue operations in six months

Dubai Police's land and sea rescue teams carried out 12,984 missions - the majority, 12,766 on land - in the first half of 2016, said Lt Col Juma Ahmad Butti Al Falasi, Director of the Search and Rescue department.
Ground rescue incidents included opening of car doors locked in accidents, transfer of stalled cars, rescuing drivers stuck in the desert and guiding them to main roads, and opening jammed elevator doors. The Maritime rescue teams carried out operations in maritime accidents and drowning incidents.
Lt Col Al Falasi stressed that Dubai police rescue personnel are available round the clock to deal with all kinds of emergencies, with teams working in shifts. He stressed that people's lives are precious, and that the teams responded immediately to calls since the time factor in emergency rescues is crucial.
Dubai Police has achieved a rapid response time of 7 to 8 minutes in such incidents, while the duration of the actual rescue act was under 12 minutes. The transport and rescue teams get regular training in dealing with various types of emergency situations, particularly in motor accidents - especially involving overturned cars and vehicles catching fire - that put lives under risk.
The rescue teams also used the latest tools in land and sea accidents, attended accident and disaster-related courses, and carried out regular drills throughout the year.
Dubai Police's land rescue teams dealt with 100 accidents in the first six months of 2016, said Lt Col Al Falasi. These caused 35 deaths, 151 injuries (26 minor, 81 moderate and 44 serious). 40 maritime accidents this year caused one death, three serious injuiries, 39 minor, and 13 moderate ones.
amira@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
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