Antarctic Fire Angels Complete Ground-breaking Expedition with Help from Getac Rugged Technology
Getac’s UX10 fully rugged tablet used for medical research and evening entertainment during 52-day journey through one of the world’s most inhospitable environments.
The Antarctic Fire Angels, a pair of firefighters from Wales, have successfully completed their ground-breaking expedition from Union Glacier to Constellation Inlet, and on to the South Pole, making them the first all-female team from the emergency services to complete the journey unsupported.
Georgina ‘George’ Gilbert and Rebecca ‘Bex’ Openshaw-Rowe skied the 1,230km route in 52 days, 10 hours and 30 minutes, to realise a dream that was originally conceived over four years ago. Along the way they had to navigate around countless deadly crevasses, often in whiteout conditions, and in freezing temperatures where just a few seconds of exposure can quickly result in frostbite.
As an unsupported expedition, George and Bex carried everything they needed with them on sledges known as pulks, which weighed over 110kgs at the beginning of the expedition. This included all the food, medical supplies and technology required to successfully reach the South Pole unaided. In addition to specialist equipment like GPS trackers and satellite navigation devices, George and Bex carried a Getac UX10 fully rugged tablet with them on their journey. This enabled them to conduct important medical research on behalf of Cardiff University throughout the expedition, as well as enjoy some much-needed media entertainment at the end of each day.
Getac’s UX10 is built to thrive in highly challenging environments and weather conditions like those found in Antarctica. Featuring IP66 and military-grade MIL-STD 810H certification, it can withstand temperatures as low as -29°C (-20°F), and is water, dust and 6-foot (1.8m) drop resistant while operating. Its high-capacity batteries also offer long period of operation between charges, making it ideal for the team’s needs.
“In an extreme environment like the Antarctic you need to have total faith in your equipment, and we knew that only rugged technology would do,” said George. “At the end of each day’s skiing we would quickly unload our pulks, set up camp, and throw the UX10 into the tent, where we would use it each evening throughout the expedition. From the first day to the last it performed flawlessly, just as we expected it to.”
“Getac was proud to support the Antarctic Fire Angels on their pioneering expedition to the South Pole,” said Paul Waddilove, Managing Director of Getac UK Ltd. “From the moment we heard about their plans, we knew the UX10 would be a great addition to their equipment list, thanks to its fully rugged build quality, low temperature operation and compact form factor. On behalf of Getac, I would like to congratulate George and Bex on completing their incredible journey and proving that if you believe in yourself, anything is possible!”
Getac Public Safety lead Will Hitch, who is a former member of the emergency services, added “This was the perfect project to showcase the UX10’s capabilities, but it’s also a statement of intent from Getac UK, that we’re passionate about supporting the people behind the uniform, as well as providing their rugged tech solutions. It’s doing both that sets us apart.”
For more information on the Antarctic Fire Angels, please visit https://antarcticfireangels.co.uk.
For more information on Getac’s UX10 fully rugged tablet, please visit www.getac.com
About Getac
Getac Technology Corporation is a global leader in rugged mobile technology and intelligent video solutions, including laptops, tablets, software, body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, digital evidence management and enterprise video analytics solutions. Getac’s solutions and services are designed to enable extraordinary experiences for frontline workers in challenging environments. Today, Getac serves customers in over 100 countries spanning defence, public safety, ambulance, fire & rescue, utilities, automotive, natural resources, manufacturing, transport, and logistics. For more information, visit: http://www.getac.com. Participate in the Getac Industry blog or follow the company on LinkedIn and YouTube.
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