Wireless Accountability Systems

[ffmildan]

We are considering the purchase of a wireless firefighter accountability system for our 660-member department. We have tested two systems, the Scott SEMS-II and the Grace Industries TPASS-4/Watchdog. Both have a software interface that utilizes a laptop computer.

They also both use a self-healing mesh network to bounce packets of data to the end user, the PC console, and back.

There are pluses and minuses to both systems. We have been conducting field studies. However, we are also looking for experience reports from departments that are using either of these systems, or another brand (i.e. Sperian, etc.).

Please reply with any information you may have. Your time and input is greatly appreciated!!

[buckruss]

I've never seen it personally, but I've heard good things about a product called Onsite ert. It's pretty new, but seems to offer some advantages that others don't.

[ffmildan]

Thanks for the info. I checked their website. Their product sounds and looks interesting. I will do some more research.

[jgilkey]

What type of wireless accountability are you looking for? If you are looking to know if your fire fighters are ok, then the Grace and Scott solutions are both good. They will monitor your personnel and let you know of any problems. If you are looking to know where they are, then the Onsite ERT or OpsCentral (fireteksolutions.com) are good. For a full system, you will need a combination of both.

[ffmildan]

This department simply wants to know that we are not "missing something" when it comes to capabilities. Our preliminary plan includes the Scott PakTracker in addition to the SEMS-II or TPASS-4.

The SEMS or TPASS will notify in case of a downed firefighter, and the PakTracker will be used to go in and actually locate them. Both brands have pros and cons. One is built-in to the SCBA; one is separate.

The big thing that is lacking in our field tests is the ability to follow a popcorn trail to the current location of the down member. We don't know how they got where they are, we just know they are there. This becomes a challenge when it comes to sending in crews to locate them. It is usually much quicker to follow the route that they used to get where they are, and hopefully bring them back out the same way. Sometimes this will not be possible due to fire conditions, collapse, etc., but it is option #1, and until it is ruled out, should be the most rapid access route.

Again, we just wanted to make sure there wasn't something already on the market that would provide something new and innovative that wasn't already being done.