ICE-SAR’s ‘Emergency Worker’ for Sale
Rescue team at work. Photo/Sigurður Ó. Sigurðsson/ICE-SAR
The annual fundraiser of the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue, Neyðarkall, began yesterday and runs through the weekend. It involves the sale of a keychain in the shape of a rescue worker – this time a female, holding a drone. The name of the fundraiser is a clever one, for the word neyðarkall has two meanings: emergency worker and emergency call.
In the coming days, rescue workers will be selling the Neyðarkall at numerous busy locations all over the country, mbl.is reports.
This year, the focus is on drones, for they have proven very helpful in search efforts. More and more rescue teams have taken them into use, and many teams have groups of volunteers specialized in using drones when searching for people.
This year's Neyðarkall. Eggert Jóhannesson
Profits from the sale of the Neyðarkall go directly to rescue teams, to be used to improve the equipment and the training of the country’s rescue workers. The operation of rescue teams is costly, although all rescue workers are volunteers.
Rescue worker, demonstrating how to fly a drone. Eggert Jóhannesson
Rescue workers require training; their equipment has to be available and in good condition; housing is needed for the equipment, as well as fuel for rescue vehicles. ICE-SAR raises funds for the operation in various ways: through the sale of fireworks, by collecting soda cans, by taking on patrol projects, by selling Christmas trees and more, and not least through the sale of the Neyðarkall.
ICE-SAR asks the public to receive rescue workers well this weekend, thereby supporting the selfless contribution of the thousands of rescue workers, who are available day and night year-round, whenever the public is in need of help.
