The companies Imergencies and Tom-Tom have teamed up to offer Algarve firefighters very useful tools to reach those in need of assistance faster and more safely.
GPS devices, access to a database that includes the georeferencing of isolated dwellings and a translation service in six languages were some of the services agreed between the companies and seven Algarve corporations, in a ceremony that took place yesterday, Thursday, in Faro.
firefighters of Faro, Tavira, Olhão, Vila Real de Santo António, Alcoutim, Albufeira and São Bartolomeu de Messines received a GPS device yesterday from representatives of the two companies to install in one of their ambulances.
A partnership that «has no commercial nature», according to Imergencies partner Jorge Pereira and which includes access to all the data that the company holds about its customers, also free of charge.
The assignment of more GPS devices and access to Imergencies databases and information is currently being discussed with more fire brigades. An idea that is welcomed by the president of the Algarve Firefighters Association Teodósio Carrilho, who hopes to see in the future "greater coverage" of these partnerships.
On the sidelines of the session, Teodósio Carrilho said that the donation of technology and data availability is currently being negotiated and he sees no reason why it should not be filed with all Algarve corporations in the medium term. “Firefighters are a futuristic entity that has existed for 600 years in this country. As such, for the instruments that guarantee us a better service, we are in the first line”, he assured.
The idea of offering these GPS devices and the associated service came from Imergencies, a company that brings together partners from three nationalities, including one Portuguese, and is dedicated to providing assistance and support services in case of emergency to customers throughout the region Algarve. In addition to the firefighters, other public security and relief forces also have free access to the Imergencies database.
As GPS devices are a central element in the signed protocols, a partner had to be found to provide this technology. “As one of the partners is Dutch and Tom-Tom too, he was the natural partner. It was all very easy», revealed Jorge Pereira, on the sidelines of the ceremony to hand over the GPS devices.
On the part of the Dutch company, there was an interest in participating in this project. «One of our main concerns is safety and as soon as we were contacted by Imergencies we immediately joined the idea», said Country Sales Manager at Tom-Tom Portugal. The devices donated to the Algarve's corporations have a market price «of around 150 euros», revealed Sofia Veríssimo.
With these devices and the information provided by Imergencies, the benefited corporations have several prior information when assisting the company's clients. Among the data available is a detailed medical record and information on the existence, for example, of a dangerous dog on the property. “Firefighters sometimes arrive at a place and come across, for example, a rotweiller. This forces us to call other authorities, with the associated waste of time», illustrated Jorge Pereira.
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