Fire has been one of the most destructive disasters since ancient times and even in the modern world. Fires can cause extremely devastating damage, destroying commercial and residential properties in various ways.
The worst bit about fire accidents is that no one can see it coming, and can result from unexpected sources when no one expects it to happen. For these reasons, efforts have been made towards using technology not only to fight fires but, most importantly, to detect and prevent them from occurring or spreading.
The modern era has devised some cutting-edge technologies that are changing the way we approach and fight fires. Even when your property has fire insurance, there are some valuable, personal and sentimental assets that are irreplaceable. Hence, the innovation and introduction of smart gadgets has upgraded the way fire is tackled to save lives and property.
Do you own a property that is at risk of fire accidents? Let’s share some of the best smart gadgets to have or install to fight fires. The idea behind using them is to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and overall safety.
Personal Alert Safety Systems
Fighting fires requires caution, and all safety precautions that align with the type and degree of fire incidence must be taken. Hence, safety is mandatory for firefighters, especially in high-risk environments. Personal Alert Safety Systems come in very handy when it comes to individual health and safety during a firefighting mission.
They are worn to monitor vital signs and detect potential hazards. They give alerts for sudden or lack of motion and increases in temperatures. These devices produce a loud alarm during an emergency and transmit distress signals to nearby medics. That ensures the immediate rescue of firefighters and enhances the safety of firefighters in a firefighting situation.
Firefighting Drones
The unmanned aircraft are equipped with thermal cameras and sensors that can survey a fire situation from the sky, even under extreme conditions. These drones are mostly used where the fire has affected a large surface area such as a forest and would be impossible to do reconnaissance on the extent of damage by land. Hence, they can quickly survey large areas, assess how the fire is spreading, and which areas would be most affected in real time to facilitate strategic decision-making.
Smart Fire Helmets
Helmets are key gear for firefighters and have continuously evolved to enhance their safety. After undergoing technological makeovers, traditional helmets have transformed into smart helmets. By smart means, they are now equipped with modern communication systems and integrated heads-up displays to pass real-time information to on-site responders.
The high-tech helmet for fighting intense fires under low visibility also has thermal imaging capabilities. These features allow a firefighter to detect persons trapped under debris in a burning structure. These advanced helmets enhance firefighter safety and effectiveness, enabling them to respond quickly and decisively as the situation unfolds.
Thermal Imaging Cameras
The most helpful technology was the ability to see through smoke and darkness to locate trapped victims or identify hotspots within a burning structure. By using thermal imaging cameras, firefighters are able to move around a burning structure with precision.
These gadgets use infrared radiation emitted by surrounding items or objects to identify heat levels on different paths. The portable devices provide situational awareness that allows firefighters to make informed choices, execute firefighting more effectively, and rescue victims more effectively.
Automated Fire Fighting Systems
Traditional firefighting is now replaced by intelligent systems using advanced sensors and machine learning algorithms. Modern intelligent fire suppression devices can detect and establish fire levels automatically and execute extinguishing processes more efficiently.
These intelligent fire systems can differentiate various types of fires. Then, they select the right fire extinguishing methods to efficiently and effectively use the firefighting resource. By using the power of AI, these systems offer a more practical way to approach fires safely and also reduce the time it would have taken for a human fighter to respond. Overall, they have immensely helped reduce risks, damages, and probable loss of lives.
Portable Biometric Monitors
During a firefighting situation, firefighters’ lives are always at stake. They engage in tedious physical activities that strain their bodies and also walk into highly polluted environments that can be damaging to the body. To monitor firefighters’ health and well-being in real time, technology has enabled the innovation of a firefighter’s wearable biometric monitor.
This gadget tracks and sends data on vital signs such as heart rate and respiration rate, physiological stress levels, and fatigue levels to the standby medical team. Hence, taking into account the health and wellness of firefighters, these smart gadgets have also made firefighting safer, resulting in a sustainable firefighting workforce.
In Summary
The introduction of smart gadgets in modern firefighting has enhanced firefighters’ safety and the efficiency and effectiveness of controlling and extinguishing fires. These devices acknowledge that firefighters must also be well-equipped and protected to respond to protect lives and property. As the firefighting industry continues to embrace technology, it is evident that future firefighting will be a walk in the park.
