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Breadcrumb

  1. Science and Technology
  2. Research & Development
  3. First Responder Capability
  4. System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER)

System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) Program

Battery-Powered Rescue Tools for Vehicle Extrication

SAVER video presents results of tool assessments.

Walk-Through Screening for Mass Casualty Threats

SAVER TechNote provides an overview. 

Crowd Analysis Technologies

SAVER Market Survey Report delivers a commercial marketplace snapshot of tech systems. 

Augmented and Virtual Reality Training Systems

SAVER Market Survey Report offers a commercial marketplace snapshot. 

Body Worn Cameras with Automatic Activation

SAVER Market Survey Report provides a commercial marketplace snapshot. 

Blue UAS for First Responders

SAVER Focus Group Report recommends Blue UAS evaluation criteria to use in a future assessment.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) manages the SAVER Program to assist emergency responders in making procurement decisions. Since its inception in 2004, the SAVER Program has produced more than 1,000 knowledge products. These knowledge products—which include focus group, market survey and assessment reports, as well as technotes, application notes, handbooks, guides and other documents—are described in detail on the SAVER Document Descriptions page, and assist in providing emergency responders with information to inform their procurement decisions.

Publicly releasable SAVER documents are available here in the SAVER Document Library. SAVER documents with limited distribution are available to members of the SAVER Community by contacting NUSTL@hq.dhs.gov.

Body-worn video cameras are designed to be head-mounted or worn at various locations on the body, depending on the model. These cameras are used by law enforcement to record traffic stops, arrests, sobriety tests, and interviews. Included reports: market survey report, assessment report, summary, and technical report.

Night vision devices using image intensifier technology have the ability to detect an object of interest in various lighting conditions and to transition from an extremely dark location to an area with ample lighting. This project focuses on responders' use of these devices in ports at night. Included reports: highlight, summary, technote and assessment report.

The proliferation of mobile broadband Internet access and new mechanisms to pool computing resources remotely (“cloud computing”) has enabled agencies to deploy small devices in the field capable of accessing sophisticated applications and vast amounts of data. It has also offered responders the ability to create a common operating picture as situation updates are made real-time and network-wide. Included report: technote.

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) supply breathing air from a source carried by users, allowing them to enter areas that are determined to be immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH). Responders use CBRN SCBAs to enter oxygen-deficient and other extremely hazardous environments. Included reports: market survey report and technote.

Long term evolution (LTE) cellular services are the most technically up-to-date commercially available wireless communication systems. Among these advantages for responders are enhanced security for data transfer and very low latency. Included report: technote.

Portable air samplers draw air through a collection medium onto which atmospheric particles or gases are deposited; at the end of the sampling period, the collection medium is removed from the sampler and analyzed at a field or central laboratory. Responders use these devices when responding to emergencies involving possible atmospheric radioactivity releases. Included reports:highlight, technote, and market survey report.

Personal radiation detectors, or radiation pagers, are small electronic devices used to detect the illicit transport of radioactive materials by providing an indication of elevated radiation levels.  These devices are designed to be worn by responders during screening and inspection operations. Included report: Personal Radiation Detectors TechNote.

Personal radiation detectors (PRDs) are pocket-sized devices that can be worn by responders to alert them to the presence of radioactive material. The primary concern associated with the use of PRDs is their performance in detecting radioactive sources in operationally relevant environments. Included reports: highlight and summary report.

Telecommunications intercept surveillance systems enable law enforcement personnel to gather data for investigative purposes. These systems can be used to track calls to or from a particular number, record audio and data messages, determine the location cell phone calls were placed from, and help determine the scope of an investigation by establishing relationships between callers. Included reports: highlight, summary, focus group report, application note, and assessment report.

Mobile vehicle arresting systems are lightweight, field-mobile units that are designed to provide law enforcement personnel with the ability to bring a moving vehicle to a stop with relative safety to the target vehicle, police officers, and other vehicles in the vicinity. These systems can be deployed by throwing or dragging the device across a travel lane or deployed from a police vehicle during a pursuit. Included reports: highlight, focus group report, and market survey report.

Rapid deployment shelter systems support emergency readiness and response by protecting personnel from the environment, housing command and control or medical centers, providing cover for evidence collection operations, and providing a location to store or distribute supplies. Included reports: highlight and market survey report.

Portable decontamination showers are used  to eliminate or decrease the amount of suspect contamination on responders, victims, and patients during emergency incidents. These showers can deploy at incident locations for on-scene treatment when fixed showers or integrated response vehicles are not available. Included reports: highlight and market survey report.

Radiation dosimeters are small radiation detectors worn on the body that monitor the personal accumulated radiation dose received by an individual from external sources. These devices can be worn by responders for worker protection and to assist in tactical response decisions following a radiation release. Included reports: highlight, market survey report and technote.

Remote chemical detection systems are designed to detect chemical vapors in air. These systems enhance safety by alerting responders either through alarm systems or through wired or wireless data transmission from the disaster site to a remote location or command center where continuous monitoring can occur. Included reports: highlight, summary, focus group report, market survey report, and assessment report.

Training programs designed to run on mobile devices can provide organizations with cost-effective, flexible alternatives to traditional classroom instruction and field training. Responders are increasingly using mobile devices to access relevant training materials. Included report: technology guide.

Property tracking systems may include the use of barcodes, contact memory buttons, radio frequency identification, and GPS. The purpose of these systems is to automate, improve, and streamline the inventory process. Included reports: highlight and market survey report.

Trauma-type first aid kits may include bulk dressings, bandages, occlusive dressings, and associated supplies for treating trauma patients in a field environment. Included reports: highlight, summary, focus group report, market survey report, and assessment report.

Mobile command vehicles support the management of incidents and planned events by providing interior and/or exterior work spaces and command and control capabilities to the incident commander on-scene or at remote locations. Included report: highlight and selection guide.

Portable intravenous (IV) infusion pumps allow medical personnel to set the amount of fluids or medication to be delivered to a patient over a specified time frame. Pre-hospital IV infusion pumps are used during emergency response operations and during patient transport. Included reports: highlight, summary, focus group report, market survey report, and assessment report.

Portable medical suction units are used by certified emergency medical technicians to open airways and manage traumas. These units are typically small to allow for easy transport and storage. Included reports: highlight, summary, focus group report, market survey report, and assessment report.

Radiation detection backpacks are designed to covertly detect the presence of radioactive material. Responders use these systems to find lost radioactive sources and to find maliciously introduced radioactive sources. Included reports: highlight, summary, focus group report, market survey report, and assessment report.

Radar systems for through-the-wall surveillance are handheld units typically used by law enforcement personnel to detect individuals behind doors, walls, and windows. These systems enhance situational awareness in operations such as forced entry and hostage rescue. Included reports: highlight, summary, focus group report, market survey report, and assessment report.

Potable water distribution systems are used by responder to transport, store, and supply drinking water in the event of a natural disaster or other situation where drinking water has been compromised or is unavailable. These systems are typically designed for short-term use and are easily cleaned and refilled to support rapid response. Included reports: highlight and procurement guide.

Portable radiological equipment is designed to detect and measure radiation for a wide range of applications. Numerous portable devices are available including personal, self-reading, and electronic dosimeters; alarming personal radiation and emergency detectors; spectroscopic personal radiation detectors; handheld radiation survey meters; radionuclide isotope identifiers; and radiation detection backpacks. Included reports: highlight and technical guide.

Portal monitors are detection systems used to monitor individuals, vehicles, and cargo for radioactive contamination in order to prevent contamination transfer to clean areas. These monitors are used to eliminate the need for individual searches using handheld monitors. Included reports: highlight, summary, technote, focus group report, market survey report, and assessment report. 

Last Updated: 05/28/2024
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