Salzburg Research and the University of Salzburg developed an intelligent firefighter jacket on behalf of the fire service supplier Texport GmbH, Salzburg Research said in a recent Facebook post.
Sensors built into the jacket report impending overheating and immediately initiate countermeasures. The prototype has now been successfully tested in the fire simulation system under real conditions.
Firefighting operations are very demanding: high temperatures, heavy protective clothing, physical exertion, and psychological stress put an enormous burden on the emergency services. If it gets too hot in the suit, heat stress occurs when the core body temperature reaches around 101.3°F (38.5°C). Those affected are more willing to take risks, more impulsive, may make wrong decisions, and overestimate their physical capabilities. In extreme cases, firefighters can collapse.
To read more, please go to salzburgresearch.at.
