‘Find my iPhone’ helps California rescuers find woman

Apple’s « Find My iPhone » feature helped rescue a woman who crashed her vehicle in a traffic accident in Southern California.

The San Bernardino County Fire Department wrote on Facebook Monday that firefighters were dispatched that day to a reported traffic accident on Highway 18 north of 40th Street.

A person who made a 911 call reported locating a vehicle off to the side and away from the roadway.

This call was « balanced to an ‘Over the Side Rescue’ mission », to bring in additional personnel and equipment.

Three engines, a heavy rescue truck company and a battalion commander responded at 6:12 a.m. PT.

The department said crews found a vehicle about 200 feet below the roadway.

Fire paramedics located a critically injured adult woman and crews initiated advanced life support while arriving rescuers set up a rope system to safely lift the victim and rescuers.

Firefighters used specialized urban search and rescue equipment. This equipment included a capstan lifting system to safely hoist the limbs.

After being brought to safety, the patient was loaded into an ambulance awaiting transport to a local trauma centre.

“The patient was likely in her wrecked vehicle overnight after leaving a family reunion. Family members grew concerned after not speaking to him this morning and used Apple’s « Find My iPhone » feature to track his whereabouts. After investigating the location of the phone, they found the vehicle on its side [and] called 911,” the department said.