Firefighting innovations from Taiwan won three gold and one silver award at the World Invention Innovation Contest held in Seoul last month, the National Fire Agency (NFA) announced in a news release today.
The "emergency rescue hauling pad" designed by Taipei Fire Department firefighter Hsu Wen-cheng (許文政), as well as the NFA-patented "electric vehicle indoor fire extinguishing system" and "phoenix attack pack" won gold medals, with the last also receiving a Special Award.
Photo courtesy of the National Fire Agency via CNA
Meanwhile, the "half body fixed carrying backboard" invented by Taichung Fire Bureau firefighter Wang Po-yu (王柏寓) won a silver medal, the NFA said.
The "phoenix attack pack" was designed by Sung Ming-che (宋明哲), a technician in NFA's research-and-development office, and Chen Wu-chi (陳武記), a researcher at the Taichung Fire Bureau, improving on current fire attack bags and made from recycled water hoses, highlighting pragmatism and environmental protection, the statement said.
Taiwan's firefighters also won two silvers at the WorldInvent Singapore event in July, which — along with the wins at last month's contest — show that Taiwan's firefighting innovations are recognized by the global community, NFA Director Hsiao Huan-chang (蕭煥章) said.
The results also demonstrated the strength of Taiwan's firefighters in rescue equipment innovation, research application implementation and sustainability, he added.
The NFA pledged to continue with interdisciplinary innovations and pragmatic solutions, striving for high-performance, low-burden and sustainability, in the hopes of not only protecting Taiwan, but also standing out in the field of global disaster prevention innovation.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
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