Tracking Firefighters

Max Ragosta



In a fire, it can be hard to tell where one person and where another could be. As easy as people get lost in fires, firefighters do the same. A house fire is a trap for firefighters. No way out, dwindling oxygen, disoriented, fires are just as dangerous for the trained as they are for anyone else. ResponderX, a startup company, is working to develop and distribute a wearable tracking technology for first responders that goes where GPS tracking can't. The startup company says it's reached a point where it's nearly ready to start testing equipment in real-life scenarios, and the Bryan Fire Department is the first to step up and offer to pilot the program.

The device will be able to locate firefighters in a 10 centimeter radius from where they are standing. This device will most certainly be able to show in which room the firefighter is in. This tracking system will be very useful for fire stations and will help to minimize deaths of firefighters.

As ResponderX began to add members to the team and began testing out different concepts, a focal point has been keeping the price point affordable for volunteer fire departments. As of now, the expected price per wearable device to be under $350.

At 350 dollars, this is a great investment. If one loses their crew while in a building, it could prove fatal. There is no sense of direction inside a building, and once one loses their bearings, they are essentially relying on luck to get them out. With this invention, it will save many lives of brave firefighters.