Researchers at伍斯特理工学院（WPI）have received a $1 million award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop a sensor that could significantly reduce and potentially eliminate line-of-duty injuries and deaths of firefighters caused by the inadvertent inhalation of氰化氢和一氧化碳，无色和无味的有毒气体。
Faculty members in WPI’s Fire Protection Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments will collaborate on the research, which will include the development and testing–in the laboratory and in the field–of a wearable, pocket-sized device that will warn firefighters when toxic gases are present.
While toxic gas sensors exist, none can function reliably in extreme conditions such as intense heat and humidity typically encountered on the fire ground. The sensor will protect firefighters continuously from inside a building near the source of a fire as well as outside of the burning structure, where toxic gases–called invisible killers – are often present, but where portable breathing devices are typically not worn.
该项目的主要研究人员是电气和计算机工程学教授David Cyganski说：“这笔赠款将产生重大影响，因为它将长期影响每位消防员。”“我们认为，该传感器将通过大大减少对这些致命气体的暴露，从而规避其长期退行效果，从而延长消防员的寿命。”
Cyganski说”的角色氰化氢as an important component of the dangers associated with the fire ground has only recently begun to receive increased attention.” In the spring of 2006, he noted, 27 members of the Providence, R.I., Fire Department were tested for cyanide poisoning in the aftermath of three separate fires. Eight members of the department were found to have significantly elevated levels of cyanide in their blood.
Cyganski’s research cited published reports stating that hydrogen cyanide may be the most deadly product of combustion impacting the fire service today, leading to progressive heart disease. Notably, heart attacks are the number one occupational killer of firefighters.
The FEMA award is the latest in a series of federal awards to fund research at WPI aimed at increasing the safety and effectiveness of firefighting. With funding from the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, and the U.S. Army, WPI researchers, led by Cyganski and James Duckworth, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, developed and extensively tested a system that can precisely locate firefighters inside a building in 3-D, and monitor their vital signs, displaying their locations, movements, and physiological status on screen at the incident commander’s station.
With a 2008 award from FEMA, Cyganski, Duckworth, and Kathy Notarianni, professor and head of WPI’s Fire Protection Engineering Department, developed a device that can provide firefighters with sufficient warning to escape an impending flashover.
Notarianni帮助领导了一系列由国土安全部资助的国家研究，并与公共安全卓越中心，国际消防员协会和国立标准技术学院（NIST）共同进行，这为最佳机组人员树立了新标准消防部门部署到高层建筑中的住宅结构和火灾的规模和资源管理。
WPI消防工程以及电气和计算机工程部门的成员经常就消防服务面临的复杂挑战进行合作。WPI官员指出，WPI开发的设备需要强大的跨学科方法，这强调了WPI的消防工程以及电气和计算机工程部门正在进行的研究中的合作的重要性。
Research and testing of the new toxic gas sensors will be made possible through a combination of WPI expertise and support from fire officials statewide. The proposed sensor will be tested and refined through rigorous work in WPI’s new Fire Protection Lab at Gateway Park.
在培训练习中，将在斯托的马萨诸塞州消防学院进行原型传感器的测试，以实现整体耐用性和可用性。188金博网网址多少然后，在明年的10个事件响应中，将由10名伍斯特消防员佩戴这些设备，并将收集数据以评估其有效性。
WPI继续努力支持消防杆，部分原因是1999年在马萨诸塞州伍斯特的冷藏仓库大火，当他们在无窗户内部的浓烟中烟雾烟雾烟雾时，六名消防员死亡。
Notarianni说：“获得这笔赠款是特殊的，因为它巩固了FEMA和其他国家组织的WPI进行研究的能力，以改善各地消防员和急救人员的生活。”
美国众议员吉姆McGovern (D-Mass.), who has been a proponent of WPI’s fire safety efforts over the years, commended WPI on the grant.
“WPI’s commitment to finding innovative solutions to some of the most challenging fire service issues is very impressive,” said McGovern. “I’m confident WPI’s latest research will bring us closer to developing a fire safety product that will help first responders worldwide. I will continue to support WPI’s initiatives in this important field.”
在申请过程中，WPI收到了当地，地区和国家消防组织的大量支持，涉及开发有毒气体传感器的前景。188金博网网址多少
华盛顿特区国际消防员协会总裁助理洛里·摩尔·梅雷尔（Lori Moore-Merrell）表示，该传感器将受到消防局的欢迎。“如果开发了本提案中的系统，该系统将提供重要而有意义的一步。”伍斯特消防官员特别高兴地提供了他们的支持，因为他们与WPI紧密联系，并决心使用新技术来挽救消防员的生命。
“I believe the commitment shown by WPI will greatly increase firefighter safety and situational awareness, which will also increase the safety of the public we serve,” said Kevin Maloney, district chief of the Worcester Fire Department’s Health and Safety division.
More:wpi.edu
