FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention is within the field of rescue equipment and specifically concerns a hand-held rescue net for searching for submerged bodies (persons) in murky waters.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Bathing and swimming in natural lagoons, stream water and the ocean is gaining popularity. In Iceland many new thermal spa-type bathing facilities are being planned. The Blue Lagoon in Iceland is an example of an existing semi-natural thermal pool, and is extremely popular. The water in the Blue Lagoon has a blue milky color, stemming from algae that thrive in the warm water that comes from deep natural geothermal reservoirs. The water has very low visibility, essentially everything that is more than a few cm below the surface cannot be seen from above the surface. Though this facility is in many ways unique, many other public bathing places and retreats with natural or semi-natural water share the feature of low-visibility water for bathing. This calls for safety precautions and protocols, to search for suspected missing persons that could be incapacitated submerged in the water. The present inventors have practical experience from within this field and have been acutely aware of the lack of effective search equipment that allow a speedy search for suspected submerged persons.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a search and rescue device that allows for speedy search of suspected submerged incapacitated persons in low-visibility shallow waters. The device can be easily held by one operator holding the device with both hands while walking in the water and thereby he can cover an area of 4m width, or even wider, in one path. The device is low-weight and can be stored on-site and very quickly assembled.

In one aspect the invention provides a hand-held search and rescue device suitable for searching for a subject in shallow low-visibility water, the device comprising at least one base unit, the base unit comprising a closed hollow plastic tube that floats in water, a net bound to the tube, and a load line arranged at the bottom of the net. The device further comprises at least one sleeve into which the hollow plastic tube can be inserted and fits snugly into, such that two base units can be joined together by inserting the tube of each base unit into a respective end of the sleeve. Thus is formed an arrangement of two base units, with one end of their respective plastic hollow tubes being snugly and securely fastened each to a respective end of the sleeve. The plastic tubes thereby extend from the sleeve, resulting in a device of an overall length of the combined length of the two hollow plastic tubes.

The net of each base unit can be arranged on the tube with conventional suitable methods such as by tying with suitable twine.

The hollow tubes can be made of any of a variety of suitable plastics such as but not limited to polypropylene or polyethylene. The tubes can for example by extruded from LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE, polyamide (Nylon), polystyrene, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride (PVC), acetal, polyphenylene sulfide, polyesters, and the like. Other polymer materials can also be used, such as acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene (ABS) and other copolymers (acetal copolymers). The sleeve can suitably be made from a plastic as well, such as any of the mentioned plastics.

The hollow tubes can be closed by simple air-tight plugs e.g. from plastic or rubber, such that the tubes remain hollow and air-filled when used in water.

The connection between the tubes and sleeve can be arranged e.g. such that the tube ends have essentially the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the sleeve, such that the tube ends fit snugly in the sleeve. The tube ends and sleeve can in other embodiments be further arranged to have a threaded connection or having a ridge or other protrusion on the end of the tube and a corresponding notch on the inside of the sleeve, preferably such that the tube is inserted and twisted into a locked position.

A load line is a weighted line that sinks and is as such well known in the field of fishing nets. The load line of the present device should have sufficient weight to ensure that the net bottom edge sinks towards the bottom, and thus that the net will hang as a curtain in the water. The load line can also be referred to as a footrope. In some embodiments the load line is a conventional load line used for fishing nets, such as a load line of a width in the range 8-15 mm, such as 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, or 15 mm. In some embodiments the load line for each base unit has a weight in the range of about 2 to about 5 kg, such as about 2, 2.5, 3, or 4 kg. In some embodiments the load line is twofold, to have a smooth flexible bottom edge while still providing sufficient weight.

The device may be configured so that it can readily be converted on-site to a stretcher, then two of said plastic hollow tubes are used as stretcher bars and one net used as the stretcher sheet. This can be done by removing the net from one plastic tube (by having the net not too tightly tied to the tube, so that the net can be pulled of the tube), using another tube with attached net, the net is then folded around the free tube to make a double or triple layer, and carabiner hooks used to hold the load line can be used to fix the folded net in place.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

Figure 1 shows an illustration of a version of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Two base units are shown in Figure 1, each with a plastic tube 1 and net 3. The net is arranged with two load lines 4, where each load line 4 has one end connected to the tube 1 or is connected to the net 3 adjacent the tube. The other end of each load line extends along the bottom edge of the net 3, fastened at four points with carabiner hooks 5. Two sleeves 2 are shown, with an internal diameter that matches the outer diameter of the plastic tubes 1. The nets 3 have a length (from the top edge at the tube to the bottom edge) of 1,20m and a mesh size of 200mm. The loadline has 12mm diameter (of type referred to as "grayling loadline").

A non-limiting prototype embodiment comprises a base unit with measured length 2 meters by 1.6 meters depth. The net of the base unit is made from a yarn, formed by knotting a relatively thin thread. The mesh is in a diamond-like structure, the grid being 150mm. A 2-meter plastic hollow tube 40 mm outer diameter that will float on water is bound to the mesh by nylon material 6. On each end of the hollow tube, there is a cap 7 glued into the hollow tube, filling the tube with air, making it leakproof and impossible to sink. A load line 4 is arranged at least along the lower edge of the net. Preferably, a load line is arranged also along the sides of the net, joined to the meshes. Thus, a load line preferably extends from the corner of the net at the plastic hollow tube, along the side of the net and the bottom edge and along the opposing side of the net. An additional load 4' line can be arranged and joined to the meshes at the lower edge, to add weight. In one embodiment, one load line extends from the top corner of the net along the side edge and the bottom to the far lower corner of the net, while another load line extends in the same way from the other top corner of the net to its opposite far lower corner. The load line or load lines can be fixed to the net e.g. by threading through the meshes, by tying it to the net with a separate line or with carabiner hooks or the like fasteners, which are fastened to the load line.

Two or more base units can be assembled together with a 200mm long custom-made plastic sleeve (40 mm inner diameter, 50 mm outer diameter), allowing the net area to be greater while in use. The prototype product branded Stakkur™ rescue net is capable of being assembled in as many units as necessary each time.

It is also possible to individually specialize the size of the equipment for different environments/locations. The current prototype has operation ability of 1.6 meters depth.

The search and rescue equipment of the invention is light, easy to handle. It is a major advantage that the equipment can be operated by one person, giving the rescue team the ability to operate more freely and allows faster response time in search and rescue missions.

The invention is particularly useful in search and rescue I drowning situations in geothermal pools, hot springs, lagoons, lakes, or other settings where visibility is poor in water.

When the person has been found and lifted from the water, the net can be changed to transport stretchers in four easy steps. What is special about the invention?

What makes the search and rescue equipment of the invention special is that it can be operated as a One-person operation (OPO) covering a width of 4 meters or more. Every extra added base unit gives an additional 2 meters in surface width. A team of two using the invention could cover up to 8 meters width. It is lightweight, easy to handle and reduces response-to- emergency time significantly, therefore reducing the risk of fatal injuries and drowning.

The mesh area is bigger than usual, reducing resistance, no aluminium need be used in the net or device, no knots in the yarn, only plastic and yarn, with a flexible lead weights (loadline) at the bottom of the net, which further reduces resistance for the user but at the same time keeping it stable. This allows for full stamina and focus on the search and rescue. Little energy is being used by the operator while operating the search and rescue equipment.

When the search and rescue equipment is used in murky waters, it is quite apparent to the operator when an obstruction occurs (a subject found), comes in contact with the search and rescue equipment resulting in knowing the exact location of the victim for immediate rescue.

It makes moving the subject to safety easy, by being able to change the search and rescue equipment into a portable stretcher in four easy steps when two or more persons are operating the invention (two persons are needed to carry the stretcher).

What can the invention be used for?

• Rescuing a submerged victim

• Active or passive submerged victim / shallow water

• Vertical and horizontal rescue in water

The invention can be used in situations when a victim may submerge after a cardiac arrest, stroke, seizure or other medical emergency resulting in unconsciousness or incapacity in the water. The invention can be used as a one-person operation by handling it from one side of the plastic tube and rotating 360° covering a diameter of 2 meters in every direction in tight spaces. If a single operator needs to cover more ground the person can assemble two search and equipment units (basic units) together in an easy step, covering 4 meters by standing in the space between the units holding onto the custom-made sleeve.

The search and rescue equipment of the invention aids in underwater search and rescue, murky waters where reduced, poor visibility occurs, for example: Geothermal pools, lagoons, rivers, hot springs and other shallow water sources.

The use of search and rescue equipment makes a rescue safer for both the rescuer and the victim especially in shallow rocky environments. Specific rescue equipment for bad visibility in water is crucial due to the nature of the environment where the inventive search and rescue equipment is intended to be operated, such as in murky/bad visibility waters.

Aspects and features

1. An advantage is the possibility to assemble the units together with a 200mm custom made plastic sleeve allowing the surface area to be greater while in use. The invention is capable of being assembled in as many units as necessary each time.

2. The equipment of the invention can be changed to transport stretchers in four easy steps. a. Remove the plastic sleeve b. Combination splice to be attached to adjacent footrope headline, to be done on both sides c. Three carabine clips hooked at the bottom of the net in equal spacing to make a flatbed d. Rescuers on each end, maneuvering the device as a transport stretcher

3. In a search and rescue operation the entire device can be carried fully or mostly under surface while performing the search. The net and headline is not visible, making the rescue operation more discreet.

4. What makes the inventive search and rescue equipment special is it can be operated as a One-person operation (OPO) covering ground of 4 meters. Every extra added basic unit gives an additional 2 meters in surface area. A team of two using the invention could cover up to 8 meters. It is lightweight, easy to handle and reduces response-to-emergency time significantly, therefore reducing the risk of fatal injuries and drowning.

5. Stakkur search and rescue equipment is less likely to entangle than its predecessor because the plastic tube is always straight. It is lighter and has a better center of gravity.

6. When search and rescue is completed, Stakkur is stored in a dry container, and is immediately ready for another Search and Rescue operation.

7. The hollow tube is sealed with caps on both sides making it leak proof/airtight, thus giving the equipment the ability to partly float on surface.