NG911 allows them to send data, they can send photos and videos to law enforcement that will assist with an investigation,” Reyes says. Fire ResponsewithNG911 For fire professionals, NG911 will also have wide reaching applications. In the last century, firefighting has changed dramatically through a concerted focus on fire prevention and enforcing more stringent building codes. Now, as modern building construction moves towards the standard inclusion of digitally connected alarms, sensors and video monitors, these networked devices can transmit valuable information to PSAPs collecting information about a scene where evidence of a fire has been detected. These connected devices can collect information such as real-time temperature, sprinkler use, blocked exits, carbon monoxide levels or other hazards. This information can then be transmitted to responders, helping them to make more informed decisions at the scene. Fire protection engineers like Casey Grant, the Executive Director of the Fire Protection Research Foundation, welcomes NG911’s data-rich features as key informants for the often dangerous job of firefighting. “During an emergency event, seconds matter,” Grant says. “You have to make correct decisions with the right amount and quality of data.” In emergency response, the safety of first responders is paramount. The information supplied through NG911’s infrastructure contributes to increased situational awareness. Grant suggests that the data fromNG911 is not just useful for active incidents. It is also important for pre- planning and for post-incident investigations. “We can harvest this data and sculpt it into wisdom for greater safety on future applications,” Grant says. Medical Emergencies &NG911 The information available through NG911 will also help drive better patient care in emergencies in a variety of circumstances, including car crashes, which are responsible for more than 32,000 deaths in United States every year. In newer cars that are equipped with computerized telemetry systems, NG911 will be able to receive notifications and data from the car’s computer, which could include information such as speed at impact, direction of impact, number of occupants, air bag deployment, etc. Using an algorithm to analyze this data, researchers have been able to accurately predict when an occupant is likely to have severe injuries and require specialized equipment to be dispatched to the scene and then transported to a trauma center. “Internal injuries that a crash victimmay suffer are not always visible to the first responders on the scene,” says Dr. Paul Stiegler, medical director for OnStar. “Injuries might be missed or underestimated.” The communication of information between the car’s computer system and a PSAP, and then out to first responders is an example of howNG911 can enable faster dispatch of more effective resources. NG911 also has application in other situations: patients
who call 911 with non-emergent concerns. Across the country, many EMS services have launched community paramedic programs to respond and triage patients who call 911 but aren’t in need of transport to an emergency department. These community paramedics are tasked with navigating patients to urgent care clinics, consultation with primary care providers or medical management in the home. JonathanWashko, Assistant Vice President of Operations at Northwell Health EMS in Syosset, New York, is a big proponent of NG911’s potential video capabilities, which will allow first responders to use telehealth applications to connect with 911 callers. Community paramedics onWashko’s team are currently using high-fidelity video and sound to create telemedicine connections in patients’ homes, and transmit real-time vital signs and other health data to a physician. Washko refers to these EMS providers as “physician extenders,” and points out that with the help of telemedicine connections, they can help navigate patients to the appropriate care, which results in better medical outcomes and use of resources. “We are able to keep these patients in their homes when they do not need a hospital visit,” he says. “We’ve had 98% customer satisfaction, and we’ve saved $7,900 per patient per visit.” Triaging 911 callers who have non-emergent medical concerns using telemedicine is just one potential application of NG911 and video. Washko takes it even further, envisioning a future in which PSAPs will deploy drones to mass casualty incidents or active shooter events and use NG911 to provide live video of the incident to the authorities. NG911: AGame Changer Although all the uses and applications of NG911 are not yet known, it is clear that this more robust, mobile- and digitally-adapted systemwill revolutionize how the public can communicate in emergencies, by allowing them to share texts, videos, audio recordings, and pictures with call-takers and dispatchers. Increasingly, NG911 will also be able to interface with the myriad of smart sensors and devices, including wearables, alarms, building sensors, car computers, home monitoring systems,
12 Next Generation 911 & FirstNet
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