You know, over the last few decades, we've seen an incredible evolution of technology
occur, and this technology does interface at how we access emergency medical services
and how sometimes they respond to our medical emergencies. We'd like to talk about a few
aspects to help bring us up to speed, so that we know how to leverage technology to our
best advantage and how to navigate some of the nuances. Let's talk about text messaging.
In certain areas, they have adopted an aggressive text messaging ability to access 911, but
I think its important to understand that its not every location, and you need to be aware
of that before you depend on it. However, the advantages could be for those who are
hearing impaired and need to be able to read the text versus being able to hear. I also
noticed that this helps when you are in loud situations like factories, or an environment
where its very difficult to actually hear through your speaker phone or regular phone
speaker. I think its important to know that the preferred method of accessing EMS is by
dialing 911 with the cell phone, and talking to them or calling them. You can use it through
a normal speaker, or you can put it on speaker phone which is also the preferred method,
so that you can lay your phone down, and actually be coaxed through the actual emergency through
the actual emergency. A couple nuances in regards to dialing to that 911, is that we
can find a phone in two states on average unlocked or locked. If its locked, most phones
have an automatic emergency word, that if you push it, it will bypass the lock, and
allow you to dial 911. This is especially important if you hand your phone to a bystander
who doesn't know your unlock code, so its also important I believe to teach nannies,
children, and babysitters, the nuances of each and every phone that they may have accessible
to dial 911. All phones are different, so make yourself familiar with them, and be sure
you know well how to access 911. Another exciting development is apps and software that help
to draw in bystanders and volunteers, who are trained in available to rescue, but the
problem is logistics, how do we know where they are when the emergency happens. There
is an exciting application called PulsePoint that when the train rescuer registers with
them, they enter into a pool of rescuers, who can be notified of local emergencies happening
in their area that they maybe in a good position to actually respond and help in a crisis.
In addition to that, there is an AED locator,so that we also know where the next available
AED might be located in a way that when you see an accessible AED available, we can go
ahead and check in, and put it into the database, so that it adds to the whole logistical map
of where these lifesaving devices are, and how they're available in the time of emergency.
And last, but not least, I think that its important that we talk on landlines and voice
over internet protocol, or VoIP phone systems. These voice over IP phones, are extremely
popular, because they access over through the internet, and can be moved from office
to office or from home to home, and still maintain your phone number and your account.
The problem is, it may not be registered with the actual accurate location, so if you move
your account or move your locations, but you did not update your account, and you dial
911, there is no way for the dispatcher to actually know exactly where you're calling
from. So, it is your responsibility to make sure that you go into the actual account system,
and update your current location for that actual physical device that you'll be dialing
911 from accessing emergency medical services. Landlines might also have a little bit of
a nuance that you should think about, and that is, if its an office, then they many
times have an outbound calling dial number that you have to push first before you get
an outside line. These are all things that could be very different, and you should just
make yourself aware of it, and if you can't remember, make little signs and put them by
the phones, so that you can be sure to remind yourself, but more importantly people who
are visiting that may not know the internal workings of that local office. Some things
to think about when you're dialing out for 911, try and access emergency medical services
when they're needed most. Don't be slowed down by technology, its designed to help us,
not hurt us.