SA students present unique solutions to help bushfire affected families as part of statewide pilot program

Backpacks for koalas, firefighting robots and springs to help kangaroos get away faster are among the quirky solutions proposed by SA students to help communities cope with bushfires. See all the ideas.

From food trucks to safety backpacks for koalas and firefighting robots, South Aussie students have delivered unique solutions to help families cope during major disasters.

Students from 10 primary schools delivered their unique ideas - developed as part of an Australian-first pilot program - during Tuesday’s Bushfire Brave Showcase at the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre.

The showcase was delivered by Bushfire Kids Connect and EdTech company Makers Empire, with students from Mercedes College, Lobethal Lutheran School, Stirling East Primary School, Lobethal Primary, Lenswood Primary and scotch College presenting over 60 concept ideas.

Presentations from Annesley Junior College and Nazareth were also received while Lincoln Gardens Primary and Port Lincoln Primary delivered their ideas via live stream.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE LIST OF TOP IDEAS

Stirling East Primary School student Leo, whose name was withheld for privacy reasons, said his board game – Safe Zone – allows players to plan their escape routes via local streets in a playful manner.

“I had to evacuate during the Cherry Gardens fire because it was actually maybe a kilometre away tops and it was a scary experience to realise that we really didn’t know which way to go,” he said.

“I designed this game to be fun and to help families talk about the real issue of how well do we know the roads around our house if we needed to evacuate quickly!”

Also making an impression was a walkie talkie, which allows families to use satellites to communicate if separated, and an app which lets you locate evacuation centres and track family members during a bushfire.

Some ideas were more quirky than others.

Could springs help kangaroos get away from danger faster?

Bushfire Kids Connect co-founder Carly Ascott said the pilot program, which launched in September this year, had played a vital part in helping students deal with trauma following the Cudlee Creek and Cherry Gardens bushfires.

“The feedback we’ve received has been amazing and we now aim to take this around Australia and then internationally,” she said.

“Our ultimate vision is to see some of these child-let concept ideas commercialised - so that they can be used around Australia.

“These kids are our future and we need to listen to them and their ideas, be it to deliver food trucks after a bushfire or developing backpacks for evacuation.”

Adelaide Hills Council mayor Jan-Claire Wisdom said she called on the State Government to consider partnering with schools to turn dreams into reality.

“Some of the ideas were a little bit quirky but I do think that someone needs to look through these ideas - as there are some gems in there - so understand what some of the problems for kids and families are and how we can help them,” she said.

“Bushfires are not a nice thing but this initiative is one of the good things that has come out of it.”

Innovative ideas to keep families safe during bushfires

Students from 10 SA primary schools have develived unique solutions - as part of a statewide pilot program - to help keep families and firefighters safe during future bushfires. Here are some of their ideas...

INOVATIVE IDEAS FOR EVERYONE

• A food rehydrate that can rehydrate any food that you want. The device is powered by a solar panel that can fit in your backpack.
• A solar powered laptop that doesn't need a charger. The device would hav a solar panel on the top of the screen and fans in the laptop so that it does over heat. It will also allow its users to make calls during an emergency - even if not connected to the internet.
• A bushfire bag that carries all of your evacuation needs. It holds a bottle on the side and comes with a solar panel and charging board on the front. The backpack has been designed in a bright colour so that it can be seen in the dark. 
• The Brushomatic phone - a phone which doubles as a bushfire safety phone which senses fire threats around you. It will also hold information on what type of things to pack before evacuating.
• The fire friendly robot - a robot that will protect you and your house from bushfires all-year-round. It has an attached app that alerts you if a fire is nearby. It also has a camera, a temperature gauge and comes with a little backpack that has water, food, and a radio with calming music. It comes with a blanket and pillow, ready for you to take in case of an emergency. The robot can also spray water from its arms. 
• The bushfire safety app - an app that controls water spinklers and also comes with a map advising of any nearby bushfires. It also lets you track family members and advise of nearby evacuation zones that are pet friendly.
• Bushfire-safe jewellery - A necklace or watch that could be worn by the eldery and other vulnerable residents in bushfire prone areas. Each item would come with a button, allowing the user to alert a relative or nominated person that they need help.
• Bushfire safe homes - a futuristic design which comes with a special fire-safe room for gas tanks, a trampoline to jump off the balcony (to escape the fire, of course), and water shooters. 

INOVATIVE IDEAS FOR FIREFIGHTERS

• The fire reflective suit - a full-body suit that comes with an air filtration mask. The suit itself reflects heat and, according to its inventor, would be particularly helpful for people unable to leave their homes during a bushfire.
• The water mech suit - similar in design to Marvel's Iron Man suit, the invention sucks up water via pumps before being stored in tanks on the back. When there is a fire, the suit will start shooting water. It also has a radio to advise property owners if it is safe to return to their homes. The suit would be made out of fire-proof metal, meaning it can stand on its own in a fire and fight it.
• The water missile - a missile designed to explode water and clear big parts of water. It comes with a propeller to reach hard-to-get-to places and is navigated via a sensor.
• The multi-mode radio - a portable radio that gives you up-to-date bushfire news from all news sources. It also comes with a mini microwave at the back, as well as a mini phone.  
• The bushfire drone - a drone that carries water and can access hard-to-get to places.
• A robotic fireman that could be sent into dangerous fire zones to protect the lives of volunteers. The robots would come with sirens and would also be able to carry water, meaning they could be deployed in more hard-to-get-to places. 

INOVATIVE IDEAS TO KEEP ANIMALS SAFE

• Springs for Kangaroos so they can hop away faster. The springs would be attached on the animals back legs.
• The Guinea Pig Car - a remote controlled car, just big enough for your beloved pet, that can safely transport guinea pigs to safety during a bushfire. The inventor suggests that the car could also be modified to carry chickens.  
• A reptile hotel - a purpose-built underground home for animals to "evacuate" to during a bushfire.
• Fire-proof backpacks for koalas - a backpack, designed similar to a car airbag, which will convert into a safety buble should the koala be engulfed by a fire.
• Fire retardant onesies for horses who have to be left behind during a bushfire. 
  
   

INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO HELP WITH BUSHFIRE RECOVERY

• Temporary bird houses to help birds from being eaten after their homes were destroyed by bushfires. 
• An essential oil trophy to help people sleep if they have a stuffy nose from all the smoke.
• The bushfire food truck - a truck or van dedicated to delivering food and other necessities to bushfire impacted families. It would serve as a one-stop-shop for donations and would be run with council support.