Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has deployed connected safety technology at the city’s FIFA World Cup host stadium to help protect spectators, athletes and event staff during the tournament.
Up to one million fans were expected to attend matches and related festivities in Miami, which lead the department to install eight connected area monitors supplied by Blackline Safety to continuously monitor for potential hazards.
Real time hazard monitoring
The deployment includes four Blackline EXO 8 area monitors, capable of detecting up to eight gases as well as gamma radiation, alongside four G7 EXO monitors, the predecessor to the EXO 8.
Connected to the Blackline Live cloud platform via a cellular network, the monitors provide incident commanders with real time information on site conditions, enabling emergency responders to make rapid decisions if hazards are detected.
The devices also feature long lasting batteries designed to provide continuous operation throughout the tournament.
Supporting emergency response
Large scale international sporting events require emergency services to prepare for a wide range of potential risks, including accidental incidents and chemical, biological or radiological threats.
Marcel Berube, Hazmat, Logistics and Training Lieutenant with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department in Florida, said: “These are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, and being asked to protect such a large event is incredible. You’re there in case anything happens, and you have a product that’s going to assist you to help everybody if needed.”
“Every experience I’ve had with Blackline has been great. The support is excellent. If you have a question, they run you through it without a problem, and everyone is very helpful. Every time I’ve had an issue, problem, question, they’ve been very supportive.”
Growing role of connected safety
The deployment reflects the increasing use of cloud connected monitoring technology to support public event security and emergency response operations.
Blackline Safety worked with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue during the planning and deployment phases to configure the system, support implementation and ensure the technology was operational before spectators arrived.
Cody Slater, CEO, Blackline Safety, said: “Every day, our technology helps protect workers in some of the world’s most demanding environments. At events like the World Cup, or the Winter Olympics in Italy earlier this year, that same mission extends beyond the worksite to help emergency responders protect the hundreds of thousands of people who have gathered to experience something unforgettable.”
