Rescue blankets hamper thermal imaging in search and rescue missions

SN Applied Sciences

Andreas Kofler¹  Gernot Groemer²  Wolfgang Lederer³  Franz J. Wiedermann³  Hannah Kranebitter⁴  Markus Isser⁵ 

[1] Alpine Police Helicopter Base Tyrol;Austrian Red Cross;Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck;Hall County Hospital;Medical Division, Austrian Mountain Rescue Service – Tyrol;

关键词: Emergency medical services;    Infrared rays;    Insulation;    Rescue work;    Rescue blanket;    Thermography;   

DOI  :  10.1007/s42452-020-03252-6

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Thermal imaging for unmanned aerial vehicles is used to search for victims in poor visibility conditions. We used a gimbal-mounted camera for thermo-radiation measurements of body temperature from persons covered with rescue blankets in the hibernal wilderness setting. Long-wave infrared radiation in the spectral range between 7500 and 13,500 nm was evaluated. Parts of this research have previously been published in a review on electromagnetic radiation reflectivity of rescue blankets ( https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/10/4/375/htm ). Surface temperature measurement was diminished by clothing, namely by 72.6% for fleece, by 82.2% for an additional down jacket and by 92.3% for an additional all-weather jacket, as compared to forehead temperature. Furthermore, we detected that a single-layer rescue blanket is sufficient to render recognition of a body shape impossible. With three layers covering a clothed body infrared transmission was almost completely blocked. However, rescue blankets increase visibility for thermal cameras due to high gradients in temperature. Conspicuously low temperatures from objects of 1 to 2 m length may indicate reflections from rescue blanket surfaces in a cold environment. Ideally, rescue blankets should be removed from the body to increase the chance of being located when using thermal imaging to search for victims in search and rescue missions.

【 授权许可】

Unknown