There’s a critical window for survival, referred to as the golden hour, after an emergency or disaster. Breakthroughs in technology can help first responders locate victims faster and save lives. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have jointly developed a radar-based technology for response and recovery operations. The Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response (FINDER) tool aims to help first responders locate and rescue living victims trapped in debris. According to the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, the tool can detect a human heartbeat buried beneath 30 feet of crushed materials, hidden behind 20 feet of solid concrete, and from a distance of 100 feet in open spaces.

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For more information on FINDER, please visit firstresponder.gov and the First Responder Communities of Practice, a community of over 7,000 members at communities.firstresponder.gov.