It’s exciting to see how evolving technology affects our industry. Today’s story about the use of smartphone transmission capabilities in refining the initial 911 contact is a great example. No matter how good EMD protocols can be, they depend upon the callers ability to accurately describe what is happening on the scene, using essentially the same technology that has been in use for over a hundred years.
Meanwhile, mobile phones have been transmitting digital data in the form of video and audio for a few years now. Imagine how the accuracy of the call intake would be if a dispatcher could see patients as well as hear them. What about being able to establish a first set of vital signs or even an ECG? Law enforcement could possibly capture first images of perpetrators; fire departments could get a scene sizeup while responding to the scene.
Privacy issues might arise, as with other aspects of technology, but if you’re calling for an emergency I would imagine that you would be acquiescing your rights to privacy. Or there would be an ability to limit the information being transmitted at the time of the call.
It’ll be cool to see where this goes over the next couple of years.
On a different note, I’ll be traveling over the two weeks and off the grid, so to speak. Stay safe and healthy and I’ll see you when I get back!
