ANCAP has launched the ANCAP RESCUE app, designed to help protect frontline emergency services personnel and provide faster post-crash care to vehicle occupants at the scene of an accident.
The company says the app will provide first responders with vehicle safety information, identify the location of in-vehicle hazards, and allow the extrication of vehicle occupants to be conducted safely.
“All Australian road users will benefit from this app, which is the first to bring together important vehicle safety information for emergency service personnel,” said Michael McCormack, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development. “If you’re involved in a crash, the information contained within the ANCAP RESCUE app will allow emergency service officers … to safely and more efficiently get to you and provide the help that is needed.”
ANCAP says the app provides a database of rescue sheets that display simple illustrations of individual vehicle models and highlights potentially hazardous elements such as fuel tanks, high-voltage batteries and airbag inflators.
“With the support of vehicle manufacturers, the ANCAP RESCUE app compiles the rescue sheets for more than 500 vehicle models into a central, digital resource,” said Rhianne Robson, ANCAP Director – Communications & Advocacy. “This is part of our broadening safety focus to minimise post-crash risks. “Providing our fire and rescue, police and ambulance officers, and in many cases SES volunteers, the tools to identify known hazards will improve response time and help reduce some of the risks they face on the job each day, and this will become increasingly important with the anticipated growth in hybrid, electric and alternative-powered vehicle models.”
“Having standardised vehicle rescue information available in a centralised and easily-accessible platform provides our officers with a better understanding of the vehicle they’re responding to, and how to ensure both their own safety and that of any crash casualties,” said Paul Baxter, Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW.
The ANCAP RESCUE app is available to all Australian and New Zealand emergency service agencies from the Apple App Store and Google Play.