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, N.Y., 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.

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

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 is available through various retail outlets, including QVC and QVC.com. In keeping with Lucas' original intention, portions of all proceeds from Herbie Hydrant will be donated to the Burn Centers of America.