Sussex ambulance trust launches video live-streaming trial
People will be able to share video from incidents to help crews get to them more quickly
A new study's been launched by emergency services in Sussex looking at whether emergency service staff can be helped by being able to see live-streamed footage from trauma incidents.
The study will test the use of technology which provides the ability for those calling emergency services to instantly share live video from their mobile device.
Video could be particularly useful if a caller is finding it hard to describe the situation, whether through stress, injury or language difficulties.
The research, which includes South East Coast Ambulance Service, Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex and researchers from the University of Surrey, launched on Tuesday (June 28th).
The current study will examine if the technology, called GoodSAM, works in different conditions, if the general public are willing and able to use the technology and if using the technology causes any psychological harm to either callers or dispatchers.
Cath Taylor, a Professor of Healthcare Workforce, Organisation and Wellbeing in the University of Surrey’s School of Health Services, said:
“We need to learn if 999 callers are willing for their camera phones to be used, and if emergency dispatchers find it useful.
"Using video has been a success in London when people have strokes or heart attacks, but will 999 callers be as willing to give access to their phone’s camera if they are with strangers at the side of a road? Or if there has been a stabbing or where they may feel in danger? What if the 4G coverage isn’t good in a remote area?
"We need to understand all these factors and it’s also really important that we understand if and how using video impacts the psychological wellbeing of people involved.”
Over the course of six months, a selection of calls taken in the emergency operations centres in South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb)will use GoodSAM technology.
A link will be sent to the 999 caller which, when clicked on will allow emergency operations staff to see the scene by using the camera on the caller’s smartphone (without allowing recording of any of the images).
Professor Julia Williams, Head of Research for SECAmb and Professor of Paramedic Science stated:
“This is an important trial and has been a long time coming. We all sense this is a good thing and that video imaging could make a difference to our patients’ care, but we don’t have actual evidence.
"This study will start to provide the all-important evidence base either way.”
Findings will help design a larger subsequent study to determine if using live streaming helps emergency service personnel to more quickly get the right help to the scene.