For rail emergencies, where passenger evacuation is necessary, slips, trips and falls and an ability to mark hazards and safe routes are issues faced by Train Operating Companies and the emergency services. Limiting passenger panic is also important while they await the arrival of rescuers.
To aid co-ordination between emergency services and identify victims, the French company Cyalume has developed products for personnel identification, hazards and equipment marking alongside the track as well as for medical triage.
On the night of March 11, 2014 from 11:55pm to 4am a full-scale disaster scenario exercise took place in Avignon TGV railway station. The scenario: a train on fire in the tunnel next to the station. All Emergency Services were mobilised with the Prefecture of Vaucluse including police for this emergency plan (Organization of Civil Security Response) . The exercise brought together nearly 300 rescuers including 200 rescue workers (firefighters, police, Civil Protection and Red Cross) to assist 63 passengers. Response capabilities and coordination of these rescuers were also tested.
Cyalume Technologies tested its range of chemiluminescent lighting for marking access/evacuation paths, obstacles, hazards and to identify people. Cyalume light products have been used by both the Emergency Services and SNCF staff under test response protocols for the use of Cyalume lighting and marking products. These devices generate light from the chemical reaction resulting from mixing two components. They are available in different sizes and shapes ranging from sticks to adhesive circular or rectangular patches with illumination times from five minute high intensity to 24 hours. They are available in red, yellow, green, blue, orange and white.
Visit www.cyalume.eu.
Image courtesy of ©Cyalume and ©COM SDIS84.
