Improving operational situational awareness, namely knowing where people are, and what is going on around you when entering a potentially hazardous environment is a task of utmost importance for any firefighter, tactical officer, commander or member of mobilising control staff.
When facing challenges such as searing temperatures, oxygen deficiency, poor visibility and potential structural failure of the building in question, having foresight of the surrounding environment is arguably the most critical element needed to mitigate risks and protect the lives of firefighters and those victims at risk.
Post incident reports, formal inquiries and retrospective research show that a lack of communication, lack of familiarity with the internal layout of the building, poor firefighter wellbeing (including heat stress) and not being aware of the precise location of crews as being contributors to many fire-related tragedies.
Conversely, improving situational awareness, and communication, will significantly reduce risk and prevent future fatalities. In terms of technology, this means the further development and utilisation of thermal-imaging solutions, accountability systems, personnel location tracking and biometric monitoring, all of which could combine in one centrally accessible hub. The primary keys to this concept are the accuracy of information being produced as well as automated data management, reducing the risk of human error and thereby creating better decision making and a safer environment.
Advanced hands-free thermal-imaging technology
In low-visibility and unfamiliar environments that a firefighter may encounter, keeping operational personnel situationally aware and sufficiently oriented is of critical importance.
Dräger’s innovative, hands-free imaging camera, the UCF FireCore gives firefighters continuous vision at the scene in thick smoke and the most difficult visual conditions. The ‘heads up’ screen remains clearly visible at all times as the screen is permanently located within the safe and clean environment of the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) facemask, protected from contaminants, smoke, heat and steam.
With the viewing screen integrated into the Dräger full-face mask, and with a small camera unit ergonomically adapted to fit any size or manufacturer’s style of helmet, a ‘heads up’ thermal image is always available in line with the wearer’s vision when required, leaving firefighters ‘hands free’ to concentrate on the task at hand, able to move faster and conduct more efficient and accurate operations and rescues at the scene of emergency.
Future plans involve these small hands-free thermal-imaging cameras being able to remotely provide all vital data and alarms from the SCBA and Telemetry system, which today can only be viewed on the SCBA gauge. Gauge monitoring is a safety-critical activity for SCBA wearers – which is not always practical depending on the smoke density plus levels of steam and condensation, which every firefighter knows obscures gauge visibility. Additional data including location technologies, biometric status and local risk information are also safety critical datasets which could be displayed clearly on the system for the firefighter to view easily, and at a glance without interrupting any firefighting or rescue activity being undertaken by them at that time.
Accountability
The goal of accountability systems is to effectively manage incidents utilising real-time data, playing a crucial role in furthering situational awareness, enabling accountability for firefighter safety and relaying tailored information to relevant key personnel at the scene.
By providing micro and macro level views of an incident or training scenario, accountability systems have the capabilities to process digital data, automate manual processes and integrate complementary technologies, which have been a catalyst for change within the industry. It is through this documented audit that the performance and status of both equipment and individuals can be monitored during and following incidents, allowing commanders to assess on-scene priorities, plan strategic or tactical actions and determine whether additional support is needed to consolidate a safe and effective outcome to any given scenario. It also supports post-incident activities including inquiries, investigations and general post-training analysis to help support the maintenance of firefighter competence.
For example, Dräger’s FireGround accountability system not only monitors how fire-safety equipment is performing while in use but also creates its own proprietary network to enable cloud-based reporting to any location and supports remote local monitoring via an App within a range of up to 1.5km. This provides availability of real-time critical information to commanders even when not in attendance at the incident.
Multiple incidents can be monitored at any time providing a full incident log, thereby increasing safety at large scale and complex scenarios. All firefighters using the Dräger AirBoss SCBA are logged automatically into the accountability system, reducing manual processes for the Entry Control Officer and leaving incident commanders free to navigate data provided by the equipment in use.
Additionally, when multiple SCBA users enter a building, a better telemetry signal is shared between network components with each SCBA set acting as a repeater and thereby extending propagation and improving connectivity. This helps further improve situational awareness, improving judgement decisions for incident commanders through providing clear and precise instruction for personnel at the scene.
Location tracking
Research and development at Dräger are playing their part in providing accurate localisation solutions. Whilst location tracking is possible in the present day with GPS, the location results rely on strong and accessible satellite signals to accommodate reliable and accurate lines of communication, hence Dräger are utilising alternative technologies for their localisation solution.
We all know that once inside any building, tunnel, underground or in highly built-up areas, a GPS signal is invariably lost – or the system becomes highly inaccurate. These inaccuracies and estimated localisation of crews create greater risk when considering the life or death of a firefighter if the information is relied upon. For this reason, Dräger’s innovative alternative solution for firefighter location will be highly accurate and reliable.
The ability to locate and track firefighters is often referred to as the ‘holy grail’, and it provides a hugely beneficial element in operational, tactical and strategic planning, thereby improving the ability to accurately direct crews involved in tactical firefighting or improving the information for search, rescue and casualty location. Another critical case where accurate localisation technology makes a real advancement is being able to locate firefighters who are trapped, injured or affected by any safety event such as physiological or cognitive impairment due to heat stress.
Biometrics
The ability to monitor heart rate, core temperatures and breathing patterns of firefighters, amongst other health factors, will become a critical component of incident solution strategy in the near future. Adaptable and data-led solutions will pave the way for operations, preventing fatalities and reducing risks, with the health of each individual firefighter at the forefront of decision making and safety frameworks.
Whilst readily utilised within the health and sport industries, affordable wearable biometric technologies are currently unfit for purpose within the hostile, high-heat environments that firefighters must operate. It is absolutely essential that any solution is academically and medically proven for accuracy. Dräger’s Research and Development teams are bridging this gap to ensure that biometric monitoring is reliable, accurate and robust enough to survive, and indeed thrive, in the harsh operational environments that firefighters often encounter.
Dräger’s existing biometric technology has been a leading product within the medical industry for over two decades, and this expertise is supporting the development of a device for use by the fire industry, to accurately monitor the health of firefighters in real time, thereby preventing fatalities, injuries and medical emergencies at their place of work.
Combining and utilising emerging technology
Knowledge, as the saying goes, is power. In an emergency, the quality of information received about an individual and the risks that they face can be the difference between life and death. Situational awareness is therefore best achieved through a combination of technologies that are interconnected, and which provide a holistic view. Further improving situational awareness will serve to give incident commanders the data they need to make better-informed decisions in real time, saving real lives.
For more information please visit www.draeger.com/en_uk
About the Author
Brian Hesler is a Consultant and Specialist Advisor at Draeger Safety UK and former Chief Fire Officer for the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service.
