Cell-Phone Program Can Save Lives

Tag : mobile phone tool
In a serious emergency, first responders already look in your cellphone to see if you've listed an emergency contact. Increasingly,people are listing it under ICE -- in case of emergency. Now yourcell phone could help save your life.
That's the premise behind MyRapidMD, a program that sends a javafile containing information that could save emergency medical crewstime in helping you should you be in an accident or unable toprovide information yourself, says Mark White, president of thecompany.
"We took the Medical Alert bracelet idea into the 21st century," hesays, adding the program was designed by first responders to helptheir colleagues when someone is in crisis and unable to speak forthemselves.
Emergency responders work on a format called "SAMPLE" -- signs andsymptoms, allergies, medication, past history, last intake andevents prior. The first hour, often referred to as the "goldenhour," may determine how well you do. Emergency crews needinformation fast, and White says putting it on a cell phone, whichmost adults and a "whole lot" of adolescents and kids have, makesthings simple.
The information resides on the cell phone, but it doesn't rely onwhether the phone can get a signal. As long as there's power to the phone, the responders can scroll through and get it, alongwith a picture so there's no case of mistaken identity shouldperson and phone be separated for some reason.
The data are backed up by a 24-hour call center so responders can enteryour unique number and also receive your emergency service profile.And there are specific places where they look for that number.
Your record doesn't contain your home address (although it listsyour city), Social Security number or credit card information. It'sof no use to someone who might steal your phone, White adds. "Witha name and town, (responders) can find out who you are if they needto go that far. But the guy who might want to steal your Valiumcan't."
The program has 15 fields that emergency teams say are crucial,including allergies, what medicines you're taking, your blood type,a contact number and your doctor's phone number.
The program and more information about it is online atwww.myrapidmd.com. Online, someone can sign up and provideinformation and a photo that will make up the file, which can besent to any cell phone that's Web capable and java capable. Mostare both, White says. It does not work on an iPhone, he said,although "we are pretty confident it will sometime in the future."
Cost is $19.95 for an individual and $5.95 for annual renewal.Until Aug. 1, people who sign up can get lifetime service for$19.95.
"It's one more tool for the emergency system without making (firstresponders) buy more software."