Rescue Flotation with Distress Tracking for Faster Water Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current emergency systems for near-shore and offshore rescues face challenges in deploying rescue devices efficiently, leading to delayed responses and reduced survival chances for individuals in distress due to time-consuming deployment and difficulty in locating and tracking individuals in water.
Innovation Solution
Development of rescue flotation systems designed to be pre-deployed in likely locations, equipped with grabbable rings, location trackers, emergency call actuators, and communications systems to facilitate quick activation and alerting emergency personnel, improving visibility and tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If current emergency systems are deployed from the beach or offshore facility, then rescue can be initiated, but deployment time is precious and response is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The flotation device is pre-deployed in the water at strategic locations before any emergency occurs. The device includes pre-configured emergency call actuators, location trackers, and communications systems that are ready for immediate activation, eliminating the need for time-consuming deployment operations during actual emergency situations.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If rescue systems are deployed once a person is in the water, then they can be activated, but location tracking and visibility are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flotation device incorporates a location tracker that continuously monitors and transmits the device's position to emergency response teams. The emergency call actuator provides immediate feedback when activated by a person in distress, sending alerts with location data to communications systems, enabling real-time tracking and rapid response without difficulty in locating the individual.
3Reliability
If a person swims back to shore from rip current, then they can be rescued, but the swim is exhausting and survivability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flotation device serves as an intermediary between the person in distress and the shore. The device provides buoyant support and stability in the water, allowing individuals to conserve energy rather than continuously swimming against currents. The grabbable ring and flotation body enable persons to anchor themselves, reducing the physical effort required to maintain position while waiting for rescue.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances survival chances by allowing individuals in distress to grab and wait safely for rescue, reducing deployment time, and enabling efficient communication and location tracking, thus improving rescue efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a flotation body having a grabbable ring positioned around an outer perimeter of the flotation body
Data Source
AI summary
Rescue flotation systems for use in near-shore and offshore environments to assist with rescue of individuals in dangerous aquatic conditions are disclosed. The rescue flotation systems include a flotation body having a grabbable ring positioned around an outer perimeter, an internal storage compartment, an emergency call actuator configured to trigger a distress response upon activation by a person in distress, a location tracker, a communications system configured to transmit a wireless distress signal including the location to responders upon activation, a distress indicator configured to emit a local visual and/or audible distress signal upon activation, and a power supply (e.g., solar panel) configured to power the location tracker, the communications system, and the distress indicator. Some of the rescue flotation systems further include life-sustaining and first-aid supplies stored in the internal storage compartment.