Fighting fire with pictures

Telecommunications Americas, Oct, 2003 by Sue O'Keefe

They say a picture says a thousand words, and fire and rescue teams in Scotland are hoping pictures can help save a thousand lives as well. Using MMS (multi-media messaging) over Orange Business Solutions' GRPS (General Packet Radio Service) wireless network, Fife Fire & Rescue in Fife, Scotland, is conducting a trial using wireless phones to take photographs at accident and disaster scenes and transmit them to the local hospital's accident and emergency teams for real-time patient evaluation.

By using the digital photographs, doctors at Dunfermline's Queen Margaret Hospital can make early assessments of the extent of a victim's injuries. They can then dispatch the appropriate medical teams and prep emergency personnel in-hospital for incoming patients. "It's difficult to assess through the spoken word if a doctor is required on site, particularly if the accident involves a victim trapped within a vehicle," says Lorna McLeod, a consultant at Queen Margaret Hospital.

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Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital and Dundee's Ninewells Hospital are also evaluating the technology. This is one of the first commercial/public uses for the Orange photo messaging service, which is typically dominated by consumer use.

"We had 27 fatalities and 328 casualties in the Fife region last year and we are hoping to see this number decrease," says Fife Firemaster Mike Bitcon.