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Tue, Nov 21, 2017

Drone Assists In Rescue Of Appalachian Trail Hiker In VA

Giles County EMS Used FLIR-Equipped Drone To Locate The Hiker

A hiker reported overdue on the Appalachian Trail in Giles County, VA was located by Giles County Emergency Medical Services using a FLIR-equipped drone last Monday.

Television station WSLS reports that the hiker's daughter contacted the rescue service, and once the aircraft was airborne, the hiker was located within five minutes, according to Giles County Rescue Captain Bill Davis.

The general location of the hiker was determined using GPS signals from his cell phone, but that was not accurate enough to pinpoint where he was. Darkness and heavy fog complicated the search.

The drone belongs to a local company which uses it for building inspections. But the company recently offered its use to EMS if needed. In this case, it was.

Davis said that to his knowledge, there is only one other drone in the state with the FLIR technology. "We mixed old school and new school, and we saved a man's life because of it," Davis said.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report

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