Each year about 100 U.S. firefighters die in the line of duty.
A German firm, Draeger Safety KG & Co., and Exit Technologies of Boulder, Colo., have joined forces to enhance the odds of survival for these first responders.
Draeger has developed two radios — the FRT 1000 which is a 457 kHz radio transmitter and receiver, and the ETR 1000 transmit-only unit — that are designed to assist lost, trapped or disoriented firefighters.
The FRT 1000 sends out a signal after 60 seconds if the firefighter stops moving. Similarly equipped colleagues then can locate and rescue the fallen firefighter. The device also comes with a Mayday button.
The low frequency signal penetrates walls and floors.
The ETR 1000 can be placed at doorways and other points in a burning building. These radios provide “electronic bread crumbs” that allow firefighters to find their way to safety, says a spokesman. About 40 U.S. fire departments are currently using these life saving systems, which were originally designed to locate avalanche victims.