By Sally Mcdonald
The Aberdeen Evening Express
ABERDEEN, Scotland — A space age-style monitor could save the lives of road crash victims on rural North-east roads.
The device, which is being researched by scientists in Aberdeen, could be used before ambulance crews reach an accident scene.
It would monitor a casualty’s vital signs and, in simple text messages, tell the first person at the crash what immediate action to take.
And because the technology is wireless, vital information — like the need for breathing support — could be relayed to ambulance crews who could have the relevant equipment prepared before they reach the casualty.
Researcher Alasdair Mort, 32, anticipates the groundbreaking device would be used by community first responders, nurses and GPs — the very people based in rural areas who can get to an accident within minutes.
It is being made possible with an £11.8 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Mr Mort said: “This technology could save lives.”
It is envisaged that a notebook size, I-Pad device would be attached to an accident victim’s chest. It would be accompanied by a handheld device, to be carried by the operator.
The information it relayed would be tailored to suit the operator’s degree of medical expertise.
It would offer a “traffic light triage system” — with red alerting the first responder to the fact that the casualty was in danger. Medics would also be able to input crucial information about the patient which could be uploaded by both paramedics and hospital emergency teams.
And researchers said because the device can be operated remotely, it would allow first responders, nurses or GPs to monitor the casualty’s condition without getting in the way of rescue operations.
Mr Mort said: “It would be a bit like the Star Trek life signs monitor except that it would have sensors that attach to someone to give an idea of their vital signs like heart and blood pressure.”
He said the device could take up to 10 years to be rolled out.
Copyright 2010 Aberdeen Journals Ltd