First response gearSeeing through the dark clearly
A new device, dubbed Thermal on Demand (TOD), allows firefighters to see everything in a heavily smoke-filled room, where the unassisted eye sees nothing but a pitch-black environment. TOD allows responders to see doors, furniture, light switches, debris on the floor, and victims lying on the floor. Looking through a periscopic lens, in front of a thermal camera, the wearer sees a detailed image of everything in the immediate vicinity.
Firefighter confronted with smoke // Source: commons.wikimedia.com
For firefighters, a day’s work consists of answering one or more calls for aid, and they must respond under what are arguably the most dangerous conditions of any profession.
Civilians, while understanding that firefighting is hazardous, are not aware of how dangerous it is. Clouds of thick, black smoke, building collapse, unfamiliarity with the building, and even flames, cannot be seen. There may be unconscious or disabled victims lying a few feet from them, but because the ambient environment, a firefighter is blinded by the smoke and flames, and the victim remains undetected.
After a long stretch of no real advances in the equipment firefighters use, new technology has accelerated efforts to bring advances in safety equipment. These improvements have brought substantial improvement in the tools used, beneficial to both to responders and victims alike.
First was the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA.) Originally designed for military and industrial use, the SCBA was welcomed. However, there are drawbacks to the masks, in that it does not yield the desired results, since external gases could leak into the mask through openings as those caused by wrinkles in the skin.
The problems were solved with the arrival of the “positive-pressure” system.
A positive-pressure SCBA entails an improved valve design that ensured the pressure inside the mask was higher than the ambient air pressure. This ensured that the external air, which possibly contained hazardous gases, would not leak into the mask.
More recently, technology has brought tools to the firefighter that are literally life savers.
The Lowell Sun reports that an improved design has yielded substantive improvement in function.
In 2012, a new mask was introduced that when used, the device presented to its wearer crucial information about the environment in which the firefighter was operating. Data such as ambient temperature, rate of temperature change, and time remaining on oxygen supply, presented on a heads-up display gave the responders data leading to improved decision-making.
But there was one significant flaw. The firefighter still could not see any details in the space he or she was operating.
Hand-held thermal imaging devices allowed the responder to see the environment, but also tied up one hand, and had to be put aside when both hands were needed, as when carrying a victim out of the area.
Now, that has changed.
BAE Systems has developed a device that solves the problem. Dubbed Thermal on Demand (TOD), firefighters can now see everything in a heavily smoke-filled room, where the unassisted eye sees nothing but a pitch-black environment.
TOD allows responders to see doors, furniture, light switches, debris on the floor, and victims lying on the floor. Looking through a periscopic lens, in front of a thermal camera, the wearer sees a detailed image of everything in the immediate vicinity.
TOD is not yet available on the market. BAE Systems, holder of the TOD patent, and through spokesman, has not completed development.
The BAE Systems spokesman refused to answer questions about the company’s development process. He did confirm that the company is working on TOD.
