Summit Safety Inc specializes in the development of tracking, accountability and early-warning, collapse-detection solutions and then integrating these advanced sensor technologies into existing first responder equipment as well as standalone solutions for applicable domestic and international markets. The firm was originally founded by a team of engineers, firefighters and concerned business people as a direct result of the devastating Worcester, MA warehouse fire of 1999. As a result of the fire, six firefighters lost their lives in an attempt to rescue two people believed to be inside. Recent line of duty deaths (LODD) for firefighters and other first responders have only reinforced the urgent need for locator systems. Summit was started with the purpose of developing an advanced, technology-based system for firefighter rescue. This system could be used by firefighters to find other firefighters in distress and to rapidly locate the exits from a structure. The technology, called the Pathfinder Firefighter Beacon, is similar to sonar, based on ultrasound and is easy to use. The Pathfinder technology has recently been integrated into the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs) and Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs) and functions similar to a PASS device: there is an automatic activation, a motion sensor detects movement, a pre-alarm goes off after 20 seconds of no movement, the device alarms after 30 seconds of no movement, and lastly there is a "panic" button. The device operates on the Firefighter (RED) frequency and affords the same level of protection as an integrated Beacon. Additionally, the Pathfinder allows any SCBA to be upgraded and can be used in operations not requiring an SCBA (such as USAR or overhaul). The Stand-Alone Firefighter Beacon is mutual-aid compatible with standard Pathfinder equipment. When the device goes into alarm, it transmits a specific ultrasound signal that any Legacy Tracker is capable of detecting and following. The Pathfinder System acts a high-tech, electronic safety rope, allowing the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) to follow the most direct route to easily locate the distressed firefighter. In structural firefighting applications, Exit Beacons are used to mark egress points on the perimeter of the structure. Auxiliary Beacons are used to mark internal points or rally points, including fire hose nozzles, emergency air tanks, search rope bags, or even the RIT team (when deployed). Any RIT Tracker or Legacy Tracker is capable of detecting and following these transmitted signals, leading the firefighter along the path to the exit or internal point. Additionally, individual firefighters can find Exit and Auxiliary Beacons, using the new, lower-cost Exit Trackers. Summit currently has its Pathfinder locator system being used by thousands of firefighters across the globe. The system provides a means for fire department Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT) to significantly decrease the time it takes to find a downed firefighter in a smoke-filled environment. Field trials have shown Pathfinder to reduce search time by as much as 50-80%, a reduction of a factor of 2 to 5 times which will dramatically increase the chances of making a successful rescue.
