When disaster strikes, every second counts. That’s why thermal imaging is such an important tool in disaster restoration. Thermal imaging can help identify hot spots in a fire-damaged building, locate victims in a collapsed structure, and find survivors in a debris field.
Thermal imaging is a type of infrared imaging that uses a camera to detect heat. It’s often used in law enforcement and military applications, but it also has a role to play in disaster response.
Thermal imaging can be used to find survivors in a debris field.
After a natural disaster like a tornado or earthquake, first responders can use thermal imaging to scan a debris field for signs of life. The heat signature of a human body stands out against the cooler background, making it easier to find survivors who might otherwise be hidden in the rubble.
Thermal imaging can also be used to find hot spots in a fire-damaged building.
Fires can do a lot of damage to a structure, but they can also leave behind hidden dangers. Hot spots can smolder for days after a fire is extinguished, and they can reignite if they’re not found and dealt with.
Thermal imaging can help firefighters locate these hot spots so they can be extinguished and the building can be safely entered.
Thermal imaging can also be used to locate victims in a collapsed structure.
When a building collapses, it can be difficult to find victims who are buried in the rubble. But thermal imaging can detect the heat signature of a human body, even if it’s hidden beneath debris.
This technology has been used to find survivors in collapsed buildings after earthquakes and other disasters.
Thermal imaging is a valuable tool for disaster response, but it’s not the only tool. First responders also rely on things like search dogs, listening devices, and visual inspection to find survivors in a disaster zone.
But thermal imaging can be a lifesaver in a disaster situation, and it’s something that more first responders are starting to use.
https://www.fema.gov/blog/2017/10/06/thermal-imaging-disaster-response
https://www.firerescuemagazine.com/articles/96517-the-role-of-thermal-imaging-in-disaster-restoration
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/disaster/