Purpose

This second proposal closes a critical gap in emergency passenger and workforce care through the introduction of a transit‑compliant rescue blanket, engineered to meet NFPA 130 fire safety standards while delivering:

• Medical shock stabilization
• Hypothermia protection
• Flame protection
• Fire suppression capability

This positions the blanket as a first‑of‑its‑kind, four‑function rescue tool that unites medical readiness with transit safety compliance.

Current Challenge

Medical Need: Shock and hypothermia frequently occur during transit incidents such as evacuations, derailments, and exposure. While EMS crews may use mylar thermal blankets as an adjunct medical device, these blankets are flammable and do not meet NFPA 130 compliance standards.

Standards Gap: NFPA 130 requires all materials in transit environments to be tested for flame spread, smoke density, and toxicity. Leadership prioritizes compliance and risk management by choosing not to introduce non‐compliant gear, even when used away from electrical hazards, to uphold audit and litigation standards.

Market Overview

No existing product seamlessly combines NFPA compliance, effective thermal retention, and patient comfort.

• EMS Mylar Blankets: Effective for warmth, but non‐compliant and flammable.
• Kovenex® Rapid Response Blanket: NFPA‐tested, fire‐safe, but lacks thermal retention.
• Poseidon NFPA 701 Fire Blanket: Fire suppression only, not patient‐oriented.

Proposed Solution

Multi-Functional Transit-Compliant Rescue Blanket

Engineer and pilot an NFPA 130 compliant blanket with four integrated capabilities:

• Patient Warming (Shock/Hypothermia Care)
  • Reflective thermal laminate retains body heat.
  • Optional aramid fleece comfort layer provides insulation and patient dignity.
• Fire Protection (Flame Resistance):
  • Base layer of fiberglass, aramid, or basalt fiber resists ignition and radiant heat.
  • Silicone/PTFE coating adds durability, waterproofing, and chemical resistance.
  • Blanket can be safely draped over a patient or responder in proximity to flames.
• Fire Suppression (Snuffing Capability):
  • Designed to smother small fires by cutting off oxygen supply.
  • Tested to NFPA 701/130 standards for flame spread and suppression.
  • Provides dual use: protective wrap and active suppression tool.
• Smoke Safety (Low Contribution & Barrier Function):
  • Materials selected to minimize smoke density and toxic off‐gassing under ASTM E662 testing.
  • Blanket itself does not add harmful smoke to the environment.
  • When deployed over small fires, suppression reduces smoke generation.
  • Can act as a temporary barrier, shielding patients from direct smoke exposure.

This design bridges fire safety compliance with medical effectiveness, creating a four-purpose blanket suitable for transit deployment.

Specifications (Prototype Concept)

• Unfolded Size: 4.5 ft × 7 ft (54 in × 84 in / 137 cm × 213 cm).
• Folded Size: Approx. 12 in × 10 in × 2 in (30 cm × 25 cm × 5 cm); compression‐packed option reduces thickness to ~1.5 in.
• Weight: 
  • Minimal build (fiberglass/aramid + foil + coating): ~1.0–1.5 kg (2–3 lbs).
  • Full build with comfort fleece: ~2.0–2.5 kg (4.5–5.5 lbs).
• Compliance Testing: ASTM E162 (flame spread), ASTM E662 (smoke density), toxicity analysis.
• Materials:
  • Fiberglass fabric (base layer for flame resistance)
  • Aramid fibers (aramid fleece for insulation and comfort)
  • Basalt fibers (optional reinforcement for durability)
  • Silicone/PTFE coating (waterproofing, chemical resistance, durability)
  • Reflective thermal laminate (for body heat retention)
  • Fire retardant composite layers (to meet NFPA 130 and 701 standards)
  • Low-smoke, low-toxicity materials compliant with ASTM E662

Strategic Benefits

• Safety Optics: Aligns with NFPA 130 standards, neutralizing compliance pushback.
• Medical Readiness: Provides hypothermia and shock protection during transit emergencies.
• Fire Protection: Shields patients and responders from flames while doubling as a suppression tool.
• Operational Innovation: Positions NYCT as a leader in multi‐function rescue gear.
• Procurement Credibility: Creates a new category of “Transit‐Compliant Rescue Blanket” for agency adoption.

Next Steps

• Prototype Development: Engage leading textile R&D manufacturers through strategic outsourcing to develop and produce high-fidelity prototype blankets, ensuring rigorous adherence to NFPA 130 standards and operational requirements.
• Testing & Certification: Facilitate ASTM E162 (flame spread), ASTM E662 (smoke density), and toxicity testing to validate compliance and performance.
• Pilot Deployment: Introduce blankets in EMS kits and stock locations, accompanied by structured field testing to evaluate real‑world performance and usability.

Innovation & Leadership Opportunity

NYCT stands at the forefront of operational innovation with this Transit-Compliant Rescue Blanket, a groundbreaking multi-functional solution uniquely engineered for transit safety and medical readiness.

By strategically securing patent protection for the blanket’s proprietary composite design and integrated functionalities, NYCT can assert intellectual property leadership, creating exclusive licensing and commercialization pathways with transit agencies nationwide.

This initiative not only elevates NYCT’s reputation as an industry pioneer but also unlocks new revenue streams and fosters cross-agency collaboration, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to setting elevated standards in rescue equipment and transit safety.

Potential Challenges and Considerations

• Development Complexity and Cost: Creating a composite blanket that effectively integrates fire safety, medical effectiveness, and suppression functions requires advanced materials engineering and rigorous testing, which may increase development time and costs.
• Balancing Functional Performance: Ensuring the blanket meets stringent NFPA compliance without compromising thermal retention or patient comfort demands careful material selection and design trade-offs.
• Procurement and Adoption Risks: New products face scrutiny and risk aversion within agencies; gaining stakeholder buy-in and navigating procurement processes may require extensive validation and pilot results.
• Intellectual Property Challenges: Securing patents depends on the novelty and defensibility of the design; legal complexities and potential prior art must be carefully evaluated.
• Manufacturing and Scalability: Establishing reliable manufacturing processes and supply chains to produce the blanket at scale while maintaining quality and cost-effectiveness is critical.
• Liability and Regulatory Scrutiny: Deploying new rescue gear involves liability considerations and compliance with evolving regulations, necessitating thorough risk assessments and documentation.

Addressing these challenges proactively will be essential to successfully advancing this innovative rescue solution within NYCT and beyond.