Introduction
In developing our company devoted to better end-of-life,
death and dying, we have at times come up with ideas for gear that could
preserve life. Recently, we decided to act on these inclinations to design a
life-sustaining product we hope to be the first of a series of emergency
response products inspired by events in the Pacific Northwest. The LIFE PACK,
is our first attempt at life preservation and was inspired by Oregon’s Taki Too
Disaster. The following is a brief summary of the tragedy and our concept in
development.
The Taki Too Disaster
On June 14, 2003, 11 of 17 passengers died when they were
cast overboard in Tillamook, Oregon. The Taki Too was a small passenger vessel
that capsized just offshore. There were plenty of life vests stored in the
ships cabin. The captain offered the passengers life vests before the voyage,
and instructed them in their use, but the passengers declined. When their ship
capsized, the majority of passengers were unable to reach the vests in time.
Please note: in this disaster, drowning didn’t cause death, it was actually
hypothermia and shock of the cold Pacific Northwest ocean temperature.
The Problem(s)
- People who can swim generally believe they are good swimmers.
- People usually find life jackets to be bulky, inconvenient, and uncomfortable.
- Although recommended, the Coast Guard does not monitor the wearing of a life jacket.
- Even with floatation gear, when a person who is not prepared falls into cold water (temperatures of 52 degrees or less) the shock of the cold alone can be fatal. Cold shock trauma can induce large gasps, hyperventilation, rapid heartbeat, and increased blood pressure.
- Most people who die of hypothermia do so in the first few minutes from failure to breathe or to sustain their heart. Even when a passenger manages to survive the first two or three minutes in cold water, they will have to contend with the opposite effect of their heart slowing down and eventually stopping altogether.
Our Solution
(Please VOTE now at Tech Briefs website)
In emergency situations, there is little time to think if
any at all and therefore any delay in response time can be lethal.
This is why Village Memorial has developed The LIFE PACK, a
first of its kind dual bag floatation device incorporating an inner thermal
lined compartment, which holds a heat generating super-corrosion sleeve. (This
slim lightweight disposable Magnesium particle impregnated sleeve is also
currently used in flameless ration heaters (FRH).) This heat-generating
element creates an exothermic reaction, which allows its wearer to maintain
homeostasis for several minutes even in dangerously cold water. This is intended
to give emergency responders additional valuable response time in a marine
rescue.
In just 12 minutes the standard FRH sleeve’s temperature can
reach 60 degrees Celsius (enough heat to bring a liter of water to a boil).
Heat is generated because the FRH contains magnesium metal impregnated material
that when mixed with salt water, forms magnesium hydroxide, and hydrogen
initiating the giving off of excess energy.
(Please VOTE now at Tech Briefs website)
Create the Future - Design Contest
(Sponsored by COMSOL, Nordson EFD, and Tech Briefs Media Group)
(Sponsored by COMSOL, Nordson EFD, and Tech Briefs Media Group)
There are only two days left to vote in Tech Briefs 2012 Create
the Future Design Contest. Learn more about the LIFE PACK and the contest by
clicking here:
