Surrey Search and Rescue Revolutionised with TOUGHBOOK 33 Rugged Notebook

Every year, over 2,100 vulnerable, high-risk adults and children go missing in Surrey and surrounding areas. Surrey Search and Rescue (SAR) is a volunteer search team specialising in finding individuals. 

With over 80 volunteers and trained search dogs, the SAR team quickly responds to incidents in any weather and environment, on-call 24/7 ready to help emergency services. The Surrey SAR team works together with the Surrey Police, supports the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service in water rescue and is also on Defra’s asset register to deploy anywhere in the UK for flood support.

In the past, Surrey SAR’s search planning teams relied on personal devices or had to wait for a vehicle equipped with a laptop to coordinate rescue operations. This limited their ability to respond quickly and efficiently. 

Enhanced Capability in Critical Moments

However, Panasonic has now donated TOUGHBOOK 33 2-in-1 detachable rugged tablets to Surrey SAR therefore now search team leaders can use the TOUGHBOOK 33 rugged devices to initiate a rescue from anywhere, sharing vital information with rescue teams before they arrive on the scene. 

The TOUGHBOOK 33 is a game-changer in the world of mobile technology. Popular with mobile workers in field services, telecommunications, defence, and emergency services, this rugged device offers top-tier performance and connectivity. It can be utilised as a traditional notebook for detailed on-site planning and a tablet for easy, on-the-go use during land or water rescues. 

The TOUGHBOOK 33 is designed to meet the dynamic needs of those who work in the most demanding environments, making it an indispensable tool in critical situations.

The military-grade ruggedness and IP65*-rated water and dust capabilities of the TOUGHBOOK 33 enable Surrey SAR volunteers to use the device in any environment, without any fear of drops, knocks, and vibrations affecting operation. The teams also utilise the TOUGHBOOK 33’s hot swappable twin batteries capability, which allows them to quickly switch batteries on operations without having to turn off the device.