Medical technology
Crowdsourcing good Samaritans
Sep 12th 2011, 20:04 by M.H. | SEATTLE
http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/09/medical-technology
Summary:
Nowadays automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are often placed in public, especially in sport institutions, to save lives. They give electric shocks to victims that have sudden cardiac issues. Accordingly to studies over 300,000 lives have been saved due to the placements of these AED‘s in public.
A small fire department in California has improved the system for calling additional help. A smartphone app has been created, when the app is activated the department instantly receives the information and can send for professional help. The app can be used on the iPhone, when other people, that have the app, are in the arrange of 160 meters of the alert, the app alerts them aswell. The app also shows the way to the nearest AED.
The system has been activated this summer and around 40,000 users are using the app. Until this time point, only once has been the alert activated, and it has saved the life of a person.
Response:
I believe that this is a very usefull app. If looked at apps in the internet, many considered as very useless. This is one of the first app‘s that actually are usefull. The result shows, only once has the alert been activated and the person could be saved. This shows that the app has a success of 100% right now. The good thing is that the app is for free, and also that users of the app that are in a range of 160 meters are alerted as well. I think that more of these app‘s should be made. Maybe one where the current alert position of the person is located so that the nearest professional help can come as fast as possible.
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Vocabulary
Word 1: alerted
“Eight citizens were alerted, two responded and a nearby AED was put into action.“
alerted: quick to notice any unusual and potentially dangerous or difficult circumstances. First known use: late 16th century, from french, meaning alerte
As monkeys came into the building the staff got alerted to get rid of them.
Word 2: department
“Now a small fire department in California is tackling all three problems with a smartphone app which relies on the idea of crowdsourcing.“
department: division of an organization, or area of activity. First known use: mid 18th century, from old french, meaning departement
A department at Woodstock School usually consists of many teachers, including a head of the department.
Word 3: system
“The system went live this summer and already has 40,000 active users.“
system: set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole. First known use: early 17th century, from Latin, meaning systema.
The system at Woodstock can be tough if the student does not follow any rules.
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