August 5, 2016
Have you ever considered biometric and physiological monitoring devices in PPE that keep an eye on the well-being of fire fighters as they make their way down a dark and smoky hallway? What about using heads-up displays in your face piece to track progress on a layout of the structure, while changing between TIC views with the blink of an eye? Command viewing information on a tablet, while a drone provides a constant 360 awareness as it circles overhead? Although such technologies may seem futuristic, researchers are currently developing these types of products and more to help make firefighters safer and more efficient.
At the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation (NFFF) Technology Summit in Oakland, California July 24-26, the nation’s leading fire research scientists sat down with national fire service leaders to explore the use of technology to reduce firefighter injuries and fatalities. The summit focused on five distinct areas: command and control, emergency operations, health, wellness and occupational diseases, tools and equipment, and training.
I was honored to participate in the NFFF Technology Summit’s group discussion on training. In our breakout session, we shared experiences and provided ideas as to what we felt could be the next generation of training. The group discussed topics such as realistic gaming simulations, advances in burn building fuel packages and configuration, as well as health monitoring devices for instructors and students. We also focused on the need for advancements in physical fitness training and applied firefighting skills. Throughout the session, the researchers from NIST and UL, representatives from some of the major training development and textbook publishers, and other national organizations took notes and asked questions.
Several initiatives and programs shared with the participants also of interested to SC firefighters include the following:
New SCBA technology gives firefighters bionic vision - CNN Developing a Research Roadmap for the Smart Fire Fighter of the Future - NFPA Community Assessment tool – Fire Cares Research Roadmap for Smart Fire Fighting – NIST Physiological Health Assessment System for Emergency Responders (PHASER) - DHS
During the final breakout reporting session, each of the five groups presented their group’s list of items discussed, a consensus of needs, and recommendations for researchers and decision makers. This process helped connect the end users with the product developers. As a longtime veteran of the fire service, I was amazed at the diversity and ideas and the level of passion for a healthier firefighter and safer fire ground. Over the next few months and years, advancements in firefighting gear, tools and resources will begin to hit the streets. The biggest challenge for all of us is acceptance. At one time, the Halligan, SCBA, TIC and even nozzle were advancements in technology. We must evaluate and decide if the new tools, sensors and other advancements will make our crews safer, more efficient and effective. We must embrace change, because the world around us is changing each and every day.
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