Rescue dogs are being trained to find survivors in disaster
zones using the latest wireless gadget - a "dogcam".
The portable all-terrain wireless system (Paws - geddit?!) has a
video camera and a harness. It is attached to the rescue dog's head
and sends video footage of what the dog can see to its human
colleagues.
Dogs can get to places that humans can't, because they are
smaller, lighter and can move around more safely. The new dogcam
could be used to help find survivors in collapsed buildings after
earthquakes, tsunamis, or fires.
The system is being tried out by a fire and rescue service in
England that sends teams around the world, including last year's
earthquake in New Zealand and tsunami in Japan.
Dogs are already used in rescue
teams, but DogCam will make them even more useful
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has three dogs that have been
trained in rescue techniques since they were puppies. It took two
years to train Byron, Barnie and Digga to detect the scent of a
survivor trapped under rubble. They have to practise constantly
because this is such a specialised skill.
A good search dog team can find victims when even the most
advanced electronic devices cannot. Experts hope the Paws device
will be a breakthrough in rescue techniques and will help them to
find even more survivors in the future.
Adapted from an article on The Daily
What.
I'm sorry, it appears you do not have flash installed.