Firstresponder Technologies
Fighting The Invisible With Cutting- Edge Sterilization

It is interesting to note that one of the largest ambulatory services companies in San Diego, only some five odd years ago, depended on a few antibacterial sprays and wipes to disinfect or decontaminate the insides of their ambulances after every patient. The seriousness of the issue was pressing. However, the lack of adequate medical devices at the time failed to improve this agency’s infection control practices, which hindered its ability to deliver the best care possible. And, today, considering how the unfortunate events of 2020 shook the world, the need for safer, more sterile environments in the context of healthcare is dire. So, how did the ambulatory services company overcome its challenges in the current day and age?

The answer lies in the highly sophisticated and innovative laboratory sterilization systems developed by FirstResponder Technologies, which excels at purifying anything. For example, with the help of the company’s ozone sterilizers, the San Diego-based emergency medical services (EMS) agency was able to effectively disinfect all their vehicles within an hour, a timeframe that bodes exceptionally well for first responders. And since the COVID-19 outbreak, FirstResponder Technologies’ solutions have become an absolute necessity for EMS and law enforcement professionals throughout the country.

Pioneering the Future of Sterilization

A daughter company of Gene Therapy Systems (GTS), and a division of Genlantis, a leading medical device innovator, FirstResponder Technologies hails from an environment filled with incredibly talented and experienced medical professionals who assist biotech professionals with various tools for research. Genlantis concentrates on supplying the market with reagents and equipment for laboratories, hospitals, and pharmaceutical organizations. “We got involved in developing a sterilization product line about ten years ago because many customers—biologists in life science—stated that some of their samples would often get contaminated,” expresses Tony Sorge, CEO of Genlantis. Tracing back to the source of the contaminants, researchers discovered that their laboratories, incubators, desktops, and even benchtops where they conducted experiments were not being adequately sterilized, leading to the damaged samples. To help clients overcome such issues and avoid significant loss of resources, the professionals within the GTS ecosystem utilized their broad knowledge of bacteria, viruses, and pathogens to address this newly growing demand through FirstResponder Technologies.

While most health systems and laboratories leverage autoclave sterilizers that use heat to disinfect equipment, there was a real problem: not all medical components like carbon dioxide incubators, fume hoods, and other large objects required for experimentation could fit into autoclaves. FirstResponder Technologies’ product line completely circumvents this issue by using nature’s strongest sterilizer—ozone.

Eliminating 99.99 Percent of the Invisible Threats

FirstResponder Technologies initially designed sterilization products for various biotech laboratories but, in recent years, has broadened its portfolio of solutions to cater to the needs of EMS and other public departments alongside schools, childcare centers, home healthcare service providers, commercial locations, residential properties, and corporations. The company currently possesses a slew of ozone, UV light-based, electrostatic, and UV-C air purifying products that address all kinds of sterilization requirements. “We maintain patented ozone units for fumigation, robot sterilizers that automatically—or controlled via iPADs— disinfect each room in a lab, and have enclosed benchtop Nest sterilizers that are handy in sterilizing N-95 masks,” adds Sorge. In addition, FirstResponder Technologies empowers clients to achieve the highest quality results quickly and cost-effectively with its electrostatic sprayers, EPA-approved tablets (proven to be more effective and safer than bleach), and several other diagnostic tools.

The company’s flagship product line, FirstResponder Sterilizers, leverages ozone/ion gas to kill various pathogens, regardless of how infected the surface, object, or equipment might be. Among the many use cases for this solution, even transportation services like buses, trains, and the many public vehicles that are driven daily can enjoy the benefits of cleaner environments through the Metro Sterilizer. Such a device is presently highly sought-after due to the ill effects of COVID-19.

With a biotech lab supplier as its parent, FirstResponder Technologies can constantly test the efficacy of its products and work on improvements to obtain the most potent bacteria and phage decontamination solution. The sterilization expert continually strives to improve its products, making them more accessible and safer to use. Take, for example, its ozone sterilizers: Each of these devices is fitted with a scrubbing system that accelerates the removal of ozone gas after every fumigation cycle. Although ozone converts to oxygen naturally, it takes a relatively long period. The company’s scrubber technology helps create a safer environment inside a fumigated space much quicker than conventionally possible. After using these sterilization products, researchers can walk into their labs and expect no chronic odors or toxic chemical buildup, problems that otherwise persist after fumigation. The level of dedication FirstResponder Technologies has toward sterilization can also be felt through its robotic UV-C sterilizers – devices equipped with motion detection sensors for world-class efficiency.

Navigating through the Pandemic

“As it did for everyone else, COVID-19 blew past us pretty fast. Our general business consisted of providing sterilizers to an existing customer base of EMS and a few police departments; however, when the emergency hit us, the number of our responsibilities skyrocketed,” states Sorge. Having to scale up almost eightfold, FirstResponder Technologies quickly adapted to the situation by utilizing the additional space in its facilities to produce more instrumentation.

We developed and patented ozone/ion units for fumigation and robot sterilizers that disinfect every room in a laboratory

In addition, the expert professionals housed by the company converted a spare laboratory into a hub to build electronics and hired a few more individuals to improve workflow efficiency. In doing so, the company exceeded the market’s expectations, especially with its focus on innovating solutions that constantly sterilize and purify the air within a specified area. “COVID-19 has been a huge wake-up call not only for the USA but for the world at large. The whole situation has been a giant learning curve, and we are formulating the best ways to mitigate damages caused by this deadly pathogen and its future variants,” says Sorge.

Fortunately, with the help of modern innovation, the speed at which leading pharmaceutical organizations have brought forth effective vaccines to the market has been remarkable. However, implementing the necessary equipment to reduce pathogens on various surfaces and in the air is critical for an individual’s safety. FirstResponder Technologies’ UV-C, ozone, and germicidal solutions are proving to be the most efficient, reliable, and affordable products that succeed at killing bacteria and life-threatening viruses.

The Road Ahead

With the sudden spike in need for sterilization over the past year, FirstResponder Technologies has gained much insight into the specific needs of different verticals. As a result, the company is currently improving its product line through intensive research and development. And, led by Sorge, who finds himself a bit of a germaphobe, the sterilization solution provider could not have asked for a better CEO to ensure its progress in today’s globalized economy. “We are a small company, but we have a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The team is very motivated by the idea of innovating new solutions to address the problems of the industry,” he says.

FirstResponder Technologies also seeks to bring back a person’s confidence, help them step back into the world, and work in their office spaces with a sense of safety. Notably, in the context of rental facilities and vehicles, the company packages its sterilization solutions in a highly easy-to-use manner depending on specific use cases; labs use larger ozone sterilizers while EMS professionals utilize very mobile kits. With such intuitive products designed to purify and disinfect surfaces, objects, and even entire rooms, FirstResponder Technologies is at the forefront of infection control innovation. Moreover, with 2021 as one of the busiest years for medical and clinical research agencies, the company consistently reassures the world to look forward to a safer, cleaner environment.