The fire service is constantly innovating, both in the technical and in the social areas. ‘Design a solution for the Dutch fire service that guarantees a safe rescue up to 200 metres from shore’. This was the task that the Haaglanden Safety Region came calling on Spark design & innovation with. In response, Spark has developed a progressive solution, the Rescue Tip-Board: a fully inflatable life-raft for rescue workers. HONOR Safety & Consultancy played an advisory role in the development process in relation to the safety aspects. Rescue workers can reach a drowning victim quickly with the inflatable life-raft and provide effective assistance. This increases the chances of survival for the drowning person significantly.
Ergonomic rescue craft
The Rescue Tip-Board is an ergonomic tool that allows rescue workers to pluck drowning victims from shallow water without having to use excessive force. By standing on the back of the raft, the craft tilts. The rescue worker can then easily haul the drowning person out of the water and on board the life-raft by simply holding onto the victim and leaning backwards. In this way, manhandling is reduced to a minimum.
The Rescue Tip-Board is an ergonomic tool that allows rescue workers to pluck drowning victims from shallow water without having to use excessive force. By standing on the back of the raft, the craft tilts. The rescue worker can then easily haul the drowning person out of the water and on board the life-raft by simply holding onto the victim and leaning backwards. In this way, manhandling is reduced to a minimum.
Fully inflatable
The innovative life-raft is inflated with a compressed air cylinder that is coupled to the craft. The life-raft is towed with the Seabob, a powerful electric jetski. During the design process, various prototypes were developed and tested by the fire service. An earlier version of the life-raft used a polyester board with inflatable edges, but, in the end, it was decided that the final design should be completely inflatable. This has the advantage of making the raft lighter, more compact, easier to fold up and transport and it is cheaper. A valuable addition is the handy storage bag that can be carried on the back.
The innovative life-raft is inflated with a compressed air cylinder that is coupled to the craft. The life-raft is towed with the Seabob, a powerful electric jetski. During the design process, various prototypes were developed and tested by the fire service. An earlier version of the life-raft used a polyester board with inflatable edges, but, in the end, it was decided that the final design should be completely inflatable. This has the advantage of making the raft lighter, more compact, easier to fold up and transport and it is cheaper. A valuable addition is the handy storage bag that can be carried on the back.
Development
Spark performed extensive application research on the use of existing rescue tools that are used abroad and by the emergency services for rescue operations in shallow water. In close cooperation with the Fire Service in the Haaglanden Safety region the problems that can hamper rescue operations were identified. Subsequently, Spark took on the entire development process for the product: from the innovative concept to production-ready rescue craft.
Spark performed extensive application research on the use of existing rescue tools that are used abroad and by the emergency services for rescue operations in shallow water. In close cooperation with the Fire Service in the Haaglanden Safety region the problems that can hamper rescue operations were identified. Subsequently, Spark took on the entire development process for the product: from the innovative concept to production-ready rescue craft.
Testing
In August 2011, the Haaglanden Fire Service tested the first prototype of the life-raft. These first tests were very promising and formed the basis for the fine-tuning of the product design. After the test with the second prototype the colour and the graphics were finalised. The end result is a production-ready model, which performed a final test in the canals of Utrecht in September 2012. Consequently, HONOR Safety & Consultancy can bring the Rescue Tip-Board to the market.
In August 2011, the Haaglanden Fire Service tested the first prototype of the life-raft. These first tests were very promising and formed the basis for the fine-tuning of the product design. After the test with the second prototype the colour and the graphics were finalised. The end result is a production-ready model, which performed a final test in the canals of Utrecht in September 2012. Consequently, HONOR Safety & Consultancy can bring the Rescue Tip-Board to the market.
Basic fire equipment
The Rescue Tip-Board is a fast, safe and labour-friendly method for rescues in water. A product that Spark is enormously proud of. It would be great if the life-raft became part of basic fire equipment.
The Rescue Tip-Board is a fast, safe and labour-friendly method for rescues in water. A product that Spark is enormously proud of. It would be great if the life-raft became part of basic fire equipment.
