Man invents emergency aid: Millsboro native ready to market

It's called the 911 Locator System and it features highly reflective address and 911 markings and strobe lights that allow fire department officials to easily find the home of a person in need during an emergency.

"This will obviously be geared towards the elderly, people with health conditions and people that live alone, but anybody could use it," Mr. Hickman said. "I know this will make money, but I'm honestly not in it for the money. Obviously, I'd like to be able to pay the bills but it's essentially to help the community. If we save two or three lives, all the hard work will be well worth it."

When a person in need dials 911, a high intensity clear strobe light is activated that will continue to blink until deactivated by either the owner or emergency medical personnel.

The system can also be programmed to activate off a medic alert pendant and plans are in the works to link the system into existing alarm systems.

In later models, the 911 Locator System will also have the ability to sense temperature changes in a person's home. This will help prevent property loss due to fire or things like frozen pipes in the cold winter months.

"We're already working on upgrades that would include things like the temperature sensor and a model that could be used by motels," Mr. Hickman said. "We'll be marketing it as a 911 locator system, but it can also be used as a security system and can be plugged into an alarm system."

Mr. Hickman currently has about 50 test units on the market, testing the viability and effectiveness of the product.

One of those units is located in an area referred to as "Malfunction Junction," an area just northeast of Millsboro so named by area emergency medical personnel because of its confusing configuration.

Earlier this year, a resident of that area who had one of Mr. Hickman's test units installed suffered a medical emergency and triggered the system.

Millsboro Volunteer Fire Department ambulance driver John Hall responded to the scene that night.

"We were told there would be a blue light flashing but we didn't think we would be able to see it," said Mr. Hall, who also serves as fire police captain for the town of Millsboro. "But we got a mile away from the house and we could see it flashing.

"This would be ideal for a person living by themselves. It will definitely make it easier for us to find them."

More information can be obtained by logging onto the company's Web site at www.2help911.com or calling Mr. Hickman at 1-866-934-5340.

News Editor James Diehl can be reached at 629-5505 or jdiehl@newszap.com.