LifeLocator(R) Life Detection Systems Save Earthquake Victims in China

SICHUAN, China--(EON:Enhanced Online News)--Five victims of the May 12, 2008 earthquake in China were found by UltraVision’s LifeLocator® Rescue System after over 72 hours of entrapment confirms Bill Lozon of UltraVision Security Systems, Inc. and Yuefi Kong of Nanjing Nanwu Instruments, Inc. an authorized UltraVision distributor in the People’s Republic of China. A limited number of these U.S.-developed units were available for deployment by Chinese emergency personnel to Sichuan province and Chongqing municipality and other areas. Five confirmed victims were found as a direct result of the use of the LifeLocator, including a 21 year-old boy in the town of Hanwang, City of Mianzhu. The units served a two-fold purpose, both rescuing live victims of the earthquake and working in conjunction with other rescue technologies and methods to ensure valuable time was not lost at sights where no life could be detected. Signaling rescue personnel in real-time via a PDA, the LifeLocator was able to accurately and rapidly provide such critical information as location and distance to the victim. Victims in distress who were breathing but unable to move or speak were found with the LifeLocator System.

“The ability to narrow down the search area is an immense help to the search and rescue teams. Removing debris, especially concrete, is very time consuming and any device that can narrow down the amount of debris removal is invaluable.”

LifeLocator was invaluable to China earthquake rescue teams in these later hours of rescue, ensuring rescue over recovery even as victims’ abilities to move or call out were diminished. Mark Foster of the Massachusetts Task Force 1, a division of FEMA’s Urban Search & Rescue Response, says of the LifeLocator, “The ability to narrow down the search area is an immense help to the search and rescue teams. Removing debris, especially concrete, is very time consuming and any device that can narrow down the amount of debris removal is invaluable.”

In earthquake rescue efforts, the UltraVision LifeLocator system detected and located victim motion and breathing in under 30 seconds, through the many components of debris piles like steel-reinforced concrete, brick, other building materials and pavement. In addition, when used by the Liangping fire rescue unit in tandem with canine rescue teams, the LifeLocator was able to rapidly clear potential false alarms, ensuring all efforts could be focused on rescue over recovery.

LifeLocator uses ultra wideband (UWB) technology to greatly improve the odds of rescue over recovery in life-threatening situations. Ultra wideband technology is the most advanced technology for locating victims by sensing even minor movement or shallow breathing. The LifeLocator is wireless, creating maximum ease of mobility over treacherous ground

About UltraVision

UltraVision is a company dedicated to developing ultra wideband (UWB) technologies for use in life rescue and safety systems. The company’s LifeLocator™ system is the international standard for maximizing rescue opportunities in countries most often devastated by building or other types of collapses due to explosions or natural disasters. The company further provides UWB security systems for property and life protection. The company’s proven ability to effectively implement UWB technology in security and life-safety products is 30+ years in the making. Future applications include the continued development of rescue, security and life-safety products.

Keyword Tags:

china, chongqing, earthquake, fema, life, rescue, search and rescue, sichuan

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