Firefighting is an extremely dangerous profession. Engineers and fire specialists are constantly searching for ways to make things safer for firefighters in an emergency situation. Below are six of the latest technologies that could soon be making their way into everyday firefighting.
1. GLANSER
Firefighters communicate mainly throught the use of analog radio. This is problematic because most of a firefighters work is done in burning buildings or in areas of wildfire where there is dense smoke. These factors can interfere with GPS-locating devices and radio communications. When these things are lost, a firefighter is basically on his or her own. According to Fox News, 90 percent of firefighter injuries occur during this time. GLANSER, which is short for Geospatial Location Accountability and Navigation System for Emergency Responders, is a portable device capable of tracking over 500 firefighters simultaneously.
2. WISPER
This technology, formally known as Wireless Intelligent Sensor Platform for Emergency Responder, takes its origins from a fairy tale. Just like Hansel and Gretel left behind bread crumbs to find their path home, WISPER acts as a digital bread crumb to lead firefighters to safety. WISPER also sends the firefighter's vital information and location back to base. The conveniently sized container is no bigger than a Thermos and holds five disposable signal routers.
3. MODIS
Firefighters have used manned aircraft and satellite imagery to monitor areas prone to wildfires, but the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer uses two satellites equipped with sensors that can detect electromagnetic radiation. NASA uses these satellites to scan the earth's surface every few days to report back with smoke and fire radiation data. NASA then passes this data along to crews who will put out the wildfires. MODIS has an advantage because it sees things on a grand scale where planes cannot go. While the program still struggles identifying smaller wildfires, improvements are constantly being made.
4. PHASER
The U.S. Fire Administration reported that firefighters have the highest rate of occupational injury and death. The Physiological Health Assessment System for Emergency Responders hopes to eliminate some of these accidents. PHASER monitors the firefighter's health during the emergency situation, and should something go wrong, it will alert the base and other firefighters. This allows for faster response times in assisting injured firefighters and could potentially save thousands of lives.
5. CIRT
Time is everything when it comes to fighting fire. Currently, firefighters use power tools to break down walls to complete a rescue in a burning building. The average time for firefighters to successfully break through is about 32 minutes. In the meantime, they must watch their footing with the cords. Raytheon developed a Controlled Impact Rescue Tool that can cut down the time it takes to break through a wall in a rescue situation by 19 minutes. The 100-pound cordless system fires blank ammunition into the wall. The shock waves from these impacts cause the wall to crumble, and it can be operated by only two firefighters.
6. The AFA Exoskeleton
Firefighting depends a lot on mobility, but firefighters' gear and equipment can weigh anywhere from 75 to 100 pounds. The Advanced Firefighting Apparatus exoskeleton is entirely in a concept stage, but the current design predicts that the technology would weigh only 50 pounds. It could also assist firefighters in carrying an additional 200 pounds. The AFA exoskeleton fits over traditional fire gear and includes a miniature water hose, jaws of life and are designed to come off quickly and easily with the tug of a lever.
Engineers, fire specialists and scientists are all looking for ways to make firefighting safer and more effective. The six examples above are just a few of the many technologies being developed to help keep firefighters safer and to help them better protect the communities they serve.