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Two years ago, many people witnessed on television a family of 5 sitting on top of a floating roof.
A wave came, and only one family member remained. But it was not a film or a teleserye everyone was watching, but real life, and Ondoy (Ketsana). It was then that everyone realized that during extreme weather conditions – which are happening more and more frequently (super typhoons, earthquakes – one that spawned the recent tsunami in Japan) – no one is safe. Unless people are prepared.
Hubby was one of those watching.
He was so affected he made it his personal project to innovate a personal rescue device for disaster preparedness.
Two years and many prototypes (sleepless nights, some nagging-and-loving) after, hubby launched on national television (via GMA 7’s (Channel 11) News to Go) his Rescue72 Vest, a floater-receptacle-grab-and-go-vest-bag designed to meet the challenges of climate change and natural disasters.
What makes it different (and why was hubby so obsessed with it)?
Rescue72 is a personal rescue device that combines protection (has a flotation feature in case of typhoons and flash floods) and organization of the basic necessities (like food, clothing and shelter) that can be used in the event of disasters, natural or manmade.
There is nothing yet like it (and yes, we applied for its registration in the Intellectual Property Office as a utility model).
Hubby in fact went into overdrive in designing the features of the Rescue72 Vest: a rainhood, durable shoulder strap (that you can link to the vests of other members of your family, or a tree, in case of flash floods), radio and cell phone pocket, whistle, strobe light, first aid and tools compartment, reflectors, id holder, adjustable waist strap, groin strap, food compartment, tube tent (size 5’ x 4’ x 4’ that can double as ground cover or “dressing room”), clothes and personal effects bag, water holders and some bonus items. It is also modular.
Modular?
The receptacles (bags) are removable and can actually be combined to make quite a stylish bag (but we do not recommend it since, well, the Rescue72 Vest is for disaster preparedness and should be ready and intact when disaster strikes).
But more importantly, and as the name implies, Rescue72 will help a person survive for 72 hours (3 days) until help comes. It can also equip rescue workers with the capacity to find, help, and aid disaster victims should calamity strike, an invaluable asset to any local government unit, to rescuers, and to the civilian population.
Because preparedness = greater chances of survival.
We will be launching Rescue72’s website within July (the disaster preparedness and awareness month). But you can already sign up at the site if you want to know more about Rescue72.
As I write, hubby is still downstairs, lost in thought, still obsessing about his Rescue72 Vest (innovating, improving – he is actually coming out with a line for offices and cars).
Well, I always knew he had it in him.
Article by Issa. Video courtesy of www.gmanews.tv. Copyright 2009-2011.
Website: www.YouWantToBeRich.com
Email: issa@youwanttoberich.com
P.S. A special thank you goes out to News to Go host Kara David and her sister Nadya David for the feature. And also to Good News with Vicky Morales (also in Channel 11). Many thanks! 😀
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