Need to Know: Rescue tech that could save your life

When disaster strikes, emergency responders speak of the “golden hour,” a critical 60-minute window when a victim has the best chance of survival. In many cases, victims might be pinned under building debris or knocked unconscious, making it difficult to cry for help. When every second counts, rescue workers rely on more than just triage and critical thinking skills to save lives.  

FINDER (Finding INdividuals for Disaster and Emergency Response) is a radar device that uses microwaves to detect the heartbeats of victims buried under rubble. This project came about after FEMA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Tech directorate decided to invest in a solution that can help rescue teams assess collapsed structures and find victims quickly, especially if the victim can’t knock twice or yell to make their presence known.

According to JPL engineer and FINDER task manager Jim Lux, disaster response is “all about having the right people in the right place with the right gear at the right time.” With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the latest rescue tech helping responders beat the clock.

Robots were first used during the Sept. 11 search-and-rescue effort, working side by side with emergency dispatch. Since then, rescue robots have been deployed in mining accidents and nuclear power plant explosions, going anywhere a human hand can’t reach. DARPA has even begun hosting a disaster-response robot competition.

For the first contest, in December 2013, competing robots faced eight tasks: walking on uneven ground, moving chunks of debris, drilling holes, climbing ladders, maneuvering through doors, turning valves, operating a fire hose and driving a cart through a course. 

A huge part of an emergency responder’s job is effective triage. This entails assessing the severity of each victim’s injuries and assigning treatment priority. Typically this is done on color-coded paper tags with vitals and other notes written on the tags themselves. However, a victim’s condition can change quickly, and in a panic, they might wander off and neglect treatment. To meet this challenge, the U.K. has developed a new system called eTriage. Each victim receives a color-coded armband with a GPS sensor and RFID chip, providing real-time monitoring of the patient’s vitals and position.

Searching backcountry for fresh powder reaps plenty of rewards for extreme skiers and snowboarders. But with rugged terrain comes an exceedingly high risk of avalanches. According to the National Ski Patrol, the overall survival rate for someone caught in an avalanche is 1 in 3, and there have been 23 incidents already this year. To help avalanche rescuers, thrill seekers can use an avalanche air bag, an inflatable system that keeps them above the snow.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, present a range of benefits for emergency responders. They can survey a disaster zone quickly, require less manpower to operate, and can drop precious cargo and relief supplies to victims in need. But these “disaster drones” aren’t exactly operating in legal airspace. The FAA has recently grounded unlicensed use of drones for search-and-rescue missions … for now.

Your smartphone can transform itself into an SOS beacon, helping rescuers track down your coordinates. It can be used as an early warning system, giving residents in Moore, Okla., more lead time before a tornado hits. Mobile technology helps emergency responders keep tabs on their team members and deliver crucial information during crunch time.

To learn more about FINDER and other rescue technology, watch "TechKnow," Saturday 7ET/4PT.