Herbie Hydrant Wins in the 2001 Hammacher Schlemmer Invention Contest

It's a product firefighter Mike Lucas wishes he didn't have to invent. But, a fire tragedy years ago led Lucas on a mission to create a product called Herbie Hydrant that would help in similar disasters all over the world. While fighting a residential fire in Vail's Gate, New York, Lucas and his fellow firefighters sought desperately to find two small children lost in the burning home. When the children were finally found, they had died from smoke inhalation. Lucas says this haunting experience, one that is shared all too often by firefighters across the nation, led him to take action. With no previous invention or product development experience, Lucas set forth the arduous task of bringing Herbie Hydrant to life -- soon to be followed by Holly Hydrant.

And Herbie Hydrant is already receiving rave reviews from some of the top product development experts nationwide as well. Out of more than 550 entries, the product was named Best Consumer Electronics Product in the prestigious Hammacher Schlemmer Invention Contest on November 12, 2001.

Herbie Hydrant is a kid-friendly, multi-dimensional unit designed to be perched beside a child's bed. In the event of a fire or other emergency, children are taught to grab Herbie to help them find their way to safety. Once lifted from the mounted base, Herbie's flashlight shines, an alarm bellows and strobe lights flash. Additionally, the unit's digital timer begins, letting emergency personnel know how long the child may have been exposed to the smoke. There is even a storage compartment where pertinent medical records of the child can be kept for quick reference by rescuers. If a child is not able to make it out of the fire, the lights and alarm aid the firefighters in locating the child.

Herbie Hydrant retails for $49.95 and is available by calling Get Herbie, Inc.: (888) 580-SAFE(7233) or by ordering directly on: http://www.herbiehydrant.com or http://www.getherbie.com

The company is producing a long list of additional fire safety education accessories and Herbie will soon be available for fundraising efforts and fire education services for firestations, EMS departments and schools nationwide. http://www.herbiehydrant.com/docs/fundraiser.htm

Herbie will also be available in retail outlets nationwide in the months to come. In keeping with Lucas' original intention, portions of all proceeds from Herbie Hydrant will be donated to the Burn Centers of America.

SOURCE Herbie Hydrant