Dubai: Dubai Police will train security guards as a first line of response to rescue people trapped in lifts after a family was trapped recently inside a lift in a shopping centre for 45 minutes.
Lt-Colonel Ahmad Atiq Burqibah, deputy director of the Search and Rescue Department at the General Department of Operations, said that he was off duty when he heard about three women and a boy trapped in a lift in a shopping centre in Bur Dubai.
“I was near the centre and went to help the family. The employees and security guard tried to open the lift for 45 minutes and they couldn’t. They alerted Dubai Police later,” Lt-Col Burqibah said.
He opened the lift door to let the family breathe some air as it was a small lift.
“I calmed the family down until the search and rescue team arrived with their equipment and rescued the family in 20 seconds. First aid was provided to the family and an investigation was carried out to know what happened,” he added.
Lt-Col Burqibah said they would train security guards as a first line of response until specialised teams arrive.
“The security guards will have training sessions to save lives and to prevent disasters. Some accidents need a quick response in places like restaurants, hotels and malls.”
A total of 1,769 land rescue missions were carried out by Dubai Police in the first two months of this year, during which 40 incidents saw people trapped in apartments and elevators.
The typical land rescue mission unit response time is 11 minutes, according to Dubai Police.
“There are around 10 police patrol teams involved in such missions in the emirate, including in Hatta, Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, Jebel Ali, Al Barsha and Deira. It helps to reduce response times,” he added.
Roughly, 22,500 land rescue missions were carried out by Dubai Police in 2017.
