Our Team has received the following communication from our National (MREW) ICT Officer Mark Lewis;

“Alan Prescott of Keswick MRT has requested we circulate details of this App to ensure that teams are aware of this new App being launched in the UK

Whilst MREW don’t endorse any mobile phone app it does recognise some may assist in helping a casualty and may save lives.

Some Facts;

• The preferred method of contacting the emergency services should be made via a voice call to 999/112, remember even if you don’t have service a 999/112 call will attempt to roam to another network. If the 999/112 call does roam to another network once the call is completed you won’t be able to call that phone back as it will look for its home network.
• It’s recommended that that mobile phone users register for the 112 emergency text message service. (http://www.emergencysms.org.uk/)
• There is no difference between 112 and 999 in the UK, in fact the 112 calls are directed to the 999 service, the operator can’t distinguish the difference between an incoming 112 or 999 call.
• Mobile Phone operators are looking at ways of obtaining the location when a mobile calls 112/999 calls, this is quite a few years away yet.

Regards, Mark Lewis, ICT Officer, Mountain Rescue England & Wales.”

“To MR Team Leaders / Communications Officers / Rescue Controllers

Through some recent work we have been doing with EE, I was introduced to some technology developed by UEPAA…

UEPAA are based in Switzerland and have developed and successfully deployed technology which allows mobile phones to operate in areas where there is no network signal.

The technology is aimed solely at improving the ability to get an emergency request (together with location information) to the appropriate emergency service.

The system, sponsored by Mammutt, Rega and many others, is currently deployed in the Swiss Alps.

Without too much technical detail, this is essentially an ‘App’ which sits on your smartphone. In the event of an emergency call, it relies on there being other devices within range which have the App installed -to relay the call to the nearest network receiver.

Obviously, it’s success depends on there being sufficient deployment of the App – something they’re calling ‘Mesh density’

The App is will become available within the UK from the 10th September 2014.

The UEPAA Team will be demonstrating their technology at the ‘Gathering’ in Aviemore from the 12th September 2014.

This technology has the potential to improve response times, especially in areas where there is poor or no network reception.

Casualty location and other detailed information, obtained from an area where there is no network signal, is a very positive step in the right direction!

Some information they have provided below … Kind Regards, Alan Prescott, Keswick MRT.”

“Dear rescue teams, Our tech is designed to make your work easier.

The countdown has begun: next week, 10th September our app will be live in the UK – watch this space! Help us make the mesh as dense as possible – Every smartphone with the Uepaa! app running becomes an additional node in the Uepaa! mesh network.

The denser the mesh network of Uepaa users in your region, the quicker you receive alarms and the more lives you save.

Help spread the word – share this through social media (10th September 2014 onwards):

Check out Uepaa, it could save your life and rescue others: www.uepaa.co.uk/download.

We’ll be live demo-ing at The Gathering (12-14th September 2014 in Aviemore, come by the Exhibition Hall to say hello 🙂

Louisa Charles | Communications Manager. Uepaa! Swiss Alpine Technology | Hardturmstrasse 76 | 8005 Zuerich | Switzerland.”