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Illinois Firefighter Creates Firefighter Drag Harness
CYNTHIA M. ELLIS
Associated Press Writer
ROSEWOOD HEIGHTS, Ill. - Justin Wilkinson never let his development of a new rescue device drag him down and is confident that it will carry firefighters to safety.
Video: New Rescue Device
The 25-year-old firefighter with the Rosewood Heights Fire Protection District designed a harness that can be used to remove downed firefighters. The design has a patent pending.
"I had this dream that is finally become a reality," Wilkinson said. "I'm so excited. I've wanted to do something to help firefighters, and this is something that does that."
Wilkinson has worked on the lightweight, military-grade webbed device for nearly two years.
"I took my idea to Marcal Roping and Rigging Inc. in Alton, and they built it for me," he said.
The tool is made from tubular webbing and is nearly 9 feet in length. It resembles a long rope with two loops on one end that are offset.
Wilkinson said the purpose of the device is to hook onto a handle built into the turnout gear or onto the self-contained breathing apparatus of a downed firefighter. This particular device allows two firefighters to connect to the downed firefighter and drag him or her to safety.
Dragging a firefighter is necessary when conditions dictate that rescuers remain low or manpower is limited. This device allows for firefighters to drag the downed firefighters from an upright position or the crawl method.
The purpose is to allow firefighters to get a better handle on the downed man or woman, making it more manageable to remove the person from a structure. The biggest challenge in dragging a downed firefighter is attaining a solid grip on the victim, Wilkinson said.
"It's especially hard when turnout gear is wet," he said.
He said the device would make it easier, especially in cases where firefighters must be moved up or down stairs or above or below grade. The device includes two large loops for firefighters to position on their shoulder, so they can pull the victim more easily and cause less stress and injury to themselves.
"The unique thing about my device is that it has an offset," Wilkinson said.
Although Rosewood Heights firefighters have done some exercises with the device, the first time it will be used by another department in training will be on Monday with the Bethalto Fire Department.
Wilkinson said Monday also will be the first time the device is sold. The apparatus will sell for between $30 and $35.
"Once orders are taken, Marcal will make them," he said. "The company has been great."
He said it's not so much about making money from the device, although that would be a bonus; it's about creating something that possibly could save a life.
"Saving a firefighter's life is the most important thing," he said.
So far, Wilkinson has invested nearly $10,000 in developing the product.
"If it weren't for my grandfather, I wouldn't have been able to do this," he said. "He believed in me."
He said his grandfather, Jim Wilkinson of Wood River, loaned him the money. He said that the project's costs include everything from design and construction to licensing and attorney's fees.
He said that he has registered his business, Wilki Rescue Tools, with the state and obtained a license. Next week, the company's Web site, http://www.wilkirescuetools.com, will be up and running, as well.
Wilkinson said that he's fortunate that his wife, Nicole, has supported him.
"She has been wonderful through this whole process," he said.
Wilkinson credited Assistant Chief Jason Hartsock of the Rosewood Heights Fire Department, along with firefighters from Wood River and East Alton, for their help with design aspects and training with him to create a product that would be useful.
"Jason has done a lot to encourage me and keep me going," he said.
Capt. Brendan McKee with the Wood River Fire Department said he has been able to look at the device and believes it to be useful to firefighters.
"I definitely think it's a worthwhile tool," McKee said.
He said that dragging a downed firefighter who weighs 300 pounds with equipment is no easy task.
"It's something I can see firefighters using," he said. "It's inexpensive and something that can be carried in a pocket."
McKee said it's good to see a young firefighter design something for such a niche market.
"He made his dream a reality, and that's not something everyone can do," he said.
Wilkinson is a second-generation firefighter. His father, Rich Wilkinson, retired in January after volunteering with Rosewood Heights for 22 years.
"All I've ever wanted to be is a firefighter," Justin Wilkinson said. "I even graduated early so that I could become firefighter."
Wilkinson is a 2003 Roxana High School graduate.
___
Information from: The Telegraph, http://www.thetelegraph.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Associated Press Writer
ROSEWOOD HEIGHTS, Ill. - Justin Wilkinson never let his development of a new rescue device drag him down and is confident that it will carry firefighters to safety.
Video: New Rescue Device
The 25-year-old firefighter with the Rosewood Heights Fire Protection District designed a harness that can be used to remove downed firefighters. The design has a patent pending.
"I had this dream that is finally become a reality," Wilkinson said. "I'm so excited. I've wanted to do something to help firefighters, and this is something that does that."
Wilkinson has worked on the lightweight, military-grade webbed device for nearly two years.
"I took my idea to Marcal Roping and Rigging Inc. in Alton, and they built it for me," he said.
The tool is made from tubular webbing and is nearly 9 feet in length. It resembles a long rope with two loops on one end that are offset.
Wilkinson said the purpose of the device is to hook onto a handle built into the turnout gear or onto the self-contained breathing apparatus of a downed firefighter. This particular device allows two firefighters to connect to the downed firefighter and drag him or her to safety.
Dragging a firefighter is necessary when conditions dictate that rescuers remain low or manpower is limited. This device allows for firefighters to drag the downed firefighters from an upright position or the crawl method.
The purpose is to allow firefighters to get a better handle on the downed man or woman, making it more manageable to remove the person from a structure. The biggest challenge in dragging a downed firefighter is attaining a solid grip on the victim, Wilkinson said.
"It's especially hard when turnout gear is wet," he said.
He said the device would make it easier, especially in cases where firefighters must be moved up or down stairs or above or below grade. The device includes two large loops for firefighters to position on their shoulder, so they can pull the victim more easily and cause less stress and injury to themselves.
"The unique thing about my device is that it has an offset," Wilkinson said.
Although Rosewood Heights firefighters have done some exercises with the device, the first time it will be used by another department in training will be on Monday with the Bethalto Fire Department.
Wilkinson said Monday also will be the first time the device is sold. The apparatus will sell for between $30 and $35.
"Once orders are taken, Marcal will make them," he said. "The company has been great."
He said it's not so much about making money from the device, although that would be a bonus; it's about creating something that possibly could save a life.
"Saving a firefighter's life is the most important thing," he said.
So far, Wilkinson has invested nearly $10,000 in developing the product.
"If it weren't for my grandfather, I wouldn't have been able to do this," he said. "He believed in me."
He said his grandfather, Jim Wilkinson of Wood River, loaned him the money. He said that the project's costs include everything from design and construction to licensing and attorney's fees.
He said that he has registered his business, Wilki Rescue Tools, with the state and obtained a license. Next week, the company's Web site, http://www.wilkirescuetools.com, will be up and running, as well.
Wilkinson said that he's fortunate that his wife, Nicole, has supported him.
"She has been wonderful through this whole process," he said.
Wilkinson credited Assistant Chief Jason Hartsock of the Rosewood Heights Fire Department, along with firefighters from Wood River and East Alton, for their help with design aspects and training with him to create a product that would be useful.
"Jason has done a lot to encourage me and keep me going," he said.
Capt. Brendan McKee with the Wood River Fire Department said he has been able to look at the device and believes it to be useful to firefighters.
"I definitely think it's a worthwhile tool," McKee said.
He said that dragging a downed firefighter who weighs 300 pounds with equipment is no easy task.
"It's something I can see firefighters using," he said. "It's inexpensive and something that can be carried in a pocket."
McKee said it's good to see a young firefighter design something for such a niche market.
"He made his dream a reality, and that's not something everyone can do," he said.
Wilkinson is a second-generation firefighter. His father, Rich Wilkinson, retired in January after volunteering with Rosewood Heights for 22 years.
"All I've ever wanted to be is a firefighter," Justin Wilkinson said. "I even graduated early so that I could become firefighter."
Wilkinson is a 2003 Roxana High School graduate.
___
Information from: The Telegraph, http://www.thetelegraph.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brandon on
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so this is pretty much a DRD and Deer Drag in made of diff material that can be used in the situations we operate in.
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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on
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A continuous piece of webbing works perfict for the drag they are performing. use a water knot to make the webbing a continuous loop. Same concept as Justins harness
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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I agree with the first two comments, but wish to elaborate a bit more. First, my intentions are not to knock the inventor, nor demean the product, but reality is the same thing can be accomplished with a simple piece of webbing with a water knot as John mentions. Everyone on our dept is issued a 20 ft piece of webbing for use which costs pennies compared to $35, the versatility is there with the webbing and can be used for more than just a drag tool.
The other issue I have from both links is that it shows a "downed" FF in a nice open area with the "rescuers" standing straight up and walking the victim out. Reality is that the rescuers will most likely be crawling and then dragging the victim out. Point is that there are other ways of removing a downed firefighter, using webbing, using the SCBA harness, DRD device and what not. One should be familiar with different techniques and uses in ways of removing a downed FF. The proplem I have with such a device as this is that it appears targeted as a rescue device only when there are similar and perhaps more versatile options currently available.
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