Rescue Stick Concept [Throwable Stick With Water-Triggered Life Preserver Inside]

If you have ever attempted one of those carnival games where you have to toss the ring around the stick you know how difficult an operation that can prove to be. Imagine now trying that same thing with a life preserver from a hundred yards away with a screaming panicked person at the other end. Got the picture. When I saw this design concept from Sungjoon Kim, Jangwoon Kim, Sook-kyung Lee and Keunhwan Pack I was all for it. The Rescue Stick is basically a hand-tossed rescue device inside which resides a life preserver that is automatically deployed as soon as it hits the water. Not a bad idea.

There are basically two reasons that this thing just might work: its overall design and its ability to effectively deploy the life preserver quickly as soon as it hits the water. The Rescue Stick measure in at 270×65x70-mm and weighs only 0.9-lb. As soon as it enters the water a chemical reaction is initiated. The rate of inflation is fast, reaching about 10L in 3-4 seconds. According to the designers, there are other materials like sodium azide, which can achieve faster inflation rates of 0.05 seconds, but at a much higher cost.

The Rescue Stick employs compressed CO2 gas in an aluminum can that should prove to be a fairly cost-effective set of components. This would be especially critical when it comes to the ability to mass-produce the item. The materials used in the proposed design can all be recycled so no waste is left in the water after use. Although, I’m not sure how many shipwreck survivors are going to make sure they gather all of the materials prior to being rescued. I’m just saying. The Rescue Stick is but a concept, so there is no word on whether or not it will ever find its way to market.