Emergency services represent one of the most important public health sectors in any developed country. Fire crews typically respond to commercial and residential fires and often are life savers thanks to their specialist equipment and rapid response times. Today, many fire services also assist paramedic crews at the scene of serious road traffic accidents and have basic emergency medical training that can prove to be invaluable in treating critically ill trauma patients if these crews are first on the scene. Police forces provide a rapid response to serious crimes and can be a vital tool in promoting public safety and order. It is recognized that the work of the emergency services relies heavily on a range of advanced technologies. This equipment is commonly used to improve the service that is delivered to the public and many of these devices can improve survival outcomes. In this article, three types of technology that are used by emergency services personnel are described.
Thermal imaging cameras
Thermal imaging cameras, such as the thermal image camera by Thorair, are vital pieces of technology that are used by emergency services after a natural disaster has taken place. For example, in the aftermath of an earthquake, extensive building damage may lead to citizens becoming trapped inside these structures. Rescue teams and emergency services will use thermal imaging cameras to detect signs of life from within the rubble. This equipment is used to pinpoint signs of heat and can be used to accurately detect trapped humans in such circumstances. This technology may also be used at the scene of house fires for similar purposes.
Portable defibrillators
Portable defibrillators are one of the key pieces of equipment that are carried by paramedics and medical technicians when they respond to life-threatening medical emergencies. A common misconception is that defibrillators work by restarting the heart after a cardiac arrest has occurred. However, these devices work by issuing an electrical charge to the heart, which is aiming to stop its beating completely so that the body’s cardiac conduction system will “reset” the normal contractions of the heart muscles. Today, many towns and cities have public automated defibrillators in shopping areas and other public spaces. They are designed to be simple to use and often feature recorded voice instructions on how they should be applied to patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest in a public location.
Jaws of life
The jaws of life are a vital piece of equipment commonly used by fire crews at the scene of serious road traffic accidents. In such emergencies where there has been significant damage to the structure of a vehicle, it can be extremely difficult to extricate an injured patient from the vehicle without risking further harm. The jaws of life are hydraulically powered devices that can quickly cut through metal vehicle structures and create an opening in the damaged vehicle to access the patient(s). This equipment has been used by fire services for decades since its invention in the early 1960s and has been an instrumental tool that has helped to save thousands of lives from serious road crashes.
