Burn-Saver Device

The technical problem addressed is implementation of a device called the Burn Saver Device (BSD) that can be attached to a firefighter's helmet to provide an early detection system to warn the firefighter of rapidly developing and/or unsafe thermal conditions in his/her immediate environment that might not be immediately evident inside protective gear. The specific innovation and the focus of the Phase I research is related to fact that the information of central importance to fire fighters' health and well-being is not simply the temperature of the air in the immediate vicinity of the fire fighter as demonstrated by concept tests conducted by the submitters. Tasks to be performed include reviewing sensor technologies to choose the most capable yet cost effective sensors, computer simulation to optimize the distribution of sensors, investigation of means of attachment and materials for a suitable helmet mounting of the BSD, investigation of mechanisms to provide real-time information on the risk and a warning of an imminent safety hazard, design and construction of a proof of concept prototype and demonstration of its operation in several real-scale fires. The outcome of Phase I will be a laboratory proof of concept that can readily be made into a device for testing in an operational environment in Phase II and then commercialized for availability to the over 1million fire fighters in the United States - greatly reducing the incidence of burn injuries and deaths, along with the associated human suffering, medical and other costs.