VIDEO: Lubbock Fire Rescue is partnering with the Texas Tech Whitacre College of Engineering to help improve firefighter safety. Their current project is developing a safer firefighter helmet to help mitigate the risk of traumatic head injuries while on the job.
Lt. Brady Robinette said what spurred this research was the tragedy on Jan. 11.
"Lt. (Eric) Hill and Officer (Nicholas) Reyna were working the scene of a traffic accident. They got struck by a vehicle and killed, and also the horrendous injuries that Matt Dawson sustained in that same accident, that was really the impetus for this research project," Robinette said. Suman Chowdhury, an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering, is leading the effort.
"Firefighters are increasingly called up to respond to active shooter incidents, vehicle accidents and medical emergencies. So, currently we are conducting two preliminary studies in collaboration with Lubbock Fire Rescue," Chowdhury said.