On the morning following the January 17 earthquake in Los Angeles County, Urban Search and Rescue team leader Ysidro ("Sid") Miranda had his work cut out for him. Luckily he and his team members brought along three new high-tech tools to help them find the earthquake victims.
Miranda's US$10,000 SearchCam 1000C was designed by a firefighter with earthquake-rescue experience. The miniature video camera has a telescoping search probe and a sensitive two-way audio circuit, which allows the rescuers to speak to the victims. Sturdy and designed for collapse rescues (such as the World Trade Center bombing), the SearchCam easily connects to any video output.
The firetruck also contains a $15,000 Olympus IF8D4 OES Industrial Fiberscope, which can be threaded through PVC pipe in order to get a look under wreckage. It can be inserted through a hole the size of a quarter for 8 to 10 feet, with vertical and lateral rotation of the tip.
Rounding out the arsenal of victim-locating devices is the $15,000 Trapped Person Locator TPL310B, designed in Israel by Elpam Electronics, where it was widely used after the Iraqi Scud attacks. The TPL310B consists of a series of vibration sensors, which are placed above the collapsed structure in a gridlike fashion. By rearranging the sensors, the operator can home in on a conscious victim, particularly if the victim moves or taps against the rubble.
After Miranda and team locate a victim buried under the debris, the real work begins: Rubble is lifted with small air bags, which are inflated over shored up lumber. A 3-inch-square air bag can lift one ton of rubble.
Search Systems: +1 (805) 967 5654, fax +1 (805) 967 8951.
ELECTRIC WORD
Electronic People Finders
