Guardia Civil carries out first aerial rescue at night with night vision goggles

The Guardia Civil has carried out the first aerial rescue at night, with night vision goggles (GVN), of a person who had suffered an impact on the head and was in the Eloa shelter (Ávila).

The rescue occurred when the Guardia Civil Air Service received notice from the Ávila Service Operational Centre (COS) to activate the helicopter to carry out a rescue in the Sierra de Gredos area (Ávila), where they warned that a person was hurt.

Due to the low light in the area due to the arrival of dusk, the rescue personnel chose to go out equipped with night vision goggles in case their use was necessary.

Likewise, to carry out the rescue, the Air Service agents proceeded to pick up the Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (GREIM) of the Guardia Civil of Hoyos del Espino (Ávila). It should be noted that due to the low luminosity that existed at that time, the crew decided to carry out said rescue with GVN.

During the rescue of the injured man, the helicopter crew had to use the search light to illuminate the area and later use night vision goggles. It should be noted that this is the first rescue carried out by the Guardia Civil in Spain with night vision glasses.

Night vision goggles

These goggles are mounted on the flight helmet so that, if used, their activation is immediate. These glasses offer a series of improvements such as:

Locating victims: Night vision goggles can also help rescue teams locate victims more easily as they can detect body heat or any other source of infrared radiation in the dark.

Improved visibility: They amplify the available light, allowing pilots and rescue teams to see more clearly in low light conditions or even complete darkness. This is especially useful during night rescue operations or in poorly lit areas.

Safety: Improving visibility with night vision goggles helps reduce the risk of accidents during rescue operations. Pilots can more easily identify obstacles, difficult terrain, and other potential hazards, allowing them to make safer decisions.

Precision navigation: They facilitate precise navigation, allowing pilots to identify visual references and landing points even in low visibility conditions. This is crucial during rescue operations in unknown terrain or in remote areas.

Training with other European police forces

Recently the Guardia Civil has received training from the French National Gendarmerie in the French Alps, where the Mountain Flight Centre is located. This has allowed the Guardia Civil Air Service to acquire knowledge of flight and rescue in night conditions through the use of night vision goggles.

Likewise, thanks to the new H-135 helicopters that the Guardia Civil has, and with the knowledge acquired during training in the use of night vision goggles, the rescue has been possible.

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