Thursday, March 17, 2016

PHOTO: Israel launches world's first distress service to accept video chats and texts

The app (pictured) works for both 'simple' emergencies, like a sick elderly relative, or a mass casualty incident
The app, which was developed by high profile start up company Reporty (pictured), allows emergency services to see the victim and determine the exact location of the incident.

A new phone app allows Israelis to make video distress calls to emergency responders on their mobile phones. The country launched a nationwide platform in which emergency services can see live video of the victim, chat via text and determine the exact location of the incident.

The app was developed by start up company, Reporty, headed up by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak.

If successful, it could attract police, fire and.....
ambulance services from around the world.

Eli Bean, director of Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service, admitted the app provides a 'solution' that 'did not exist beforehand'.

He added: 'It will allow us to get the information we need real time, and certainly reduce response time and improve the care we provide.'

The app works for both 'simple' emergencies, like a sick elderly relative, or a mass casualty incident, said Mr Bean, referring to a Palestinian attack in Tel Aviv last week.

Had the emergency services been able to receive videos and, perhaps more importantly, the ability determine location of callers, he said, 'no doubt we would have handled it differently'.

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