2018-2019 Solve for Tomorrow Student Video: Northern Cass Middle School, North Dakota

Summary

Students from a rural school in North Dakota, facing lengthy emergency response times, developed an innovative app called EVA (Emergency Video Assistance). This app includes video chat capabilities to connect callers with first responders, allowing them to assess incidents in real-time before arriving on the scene. After consulting with EMTs, police, and dispatch, the students incorporated features like emergency medical information and video guidance for common medical emergencies. EVA is designed to improve response efficiency and ultimately save lives in their community by streamlining first responder efforts.

Takeaways

• 🏫 The school is located in northern Catskill, about 30 miles northwest of Fargo, North Dakota, and serves around 650 students from various rural towns.
• 💡 The students took on a project aimed at improving emergency response times in their community.
• 🚑 It currently takes 30 to 45 minutes for first responders to reach their community, which led to the idea of creating an app to make response times more efficient.
• 📱 The app, called EVA (Emergency Video Assistance), would have video chat functionality, allowing first responders to see the incident and prepare accordingly before arriving.
• 👩‍⚕️ EMTs and local professionals were consulted to ensure the app would be helpful in assessing the situation and creating a response plan.
• 🚓 The local sheriff’s department noted the app could assist police by providing evidence through video.
• 📞 Dispatch centers appreciated the app’s potential to visually clarify incidents that people may have difficulty explaining over the phone.
• ⚠️ Concerns were raised about dispatch workers being untrained in trauma care, leading to the decision that only first responders would receive the video feed.
• 🔄 The app includes additional features like calling 911, texting, video chat with first responders, and an emergency medical information page with life-saving instructions.
• 🌍 EVA is expected to make a significant impact on the community by reducing response times and ultimately saving lives.

Q & A

What is the primary problem the students aimed to solve?

The students aimed to solve the problem of long emergency response times, which took approximately 30 to 45 minutes for first responders to reach their rural community.

What was the solution proposed by the students?

The students proposed creating an app called EVA (Emergency Video Assistance) that would allow first responders to video chat with people at the scene, helping them better understand and prepare for the situation before they arrive.

How did the students gather information to develop the app?

The students consulted with local EMTs, the sheriff's department, and the local dispatch center to understand how the app could help first responders and improve emergency response.

What were some concerns raised about the app during the consultation process?

One concern raised was that dispatch workers are not trained in trauma like first responders, so the students decided to ensure that video footage would be sent only to first responders.

How did the professionals feel about the app?

The professionals, including EMTs and law enforcement, felt that the app would make their jobs more efficient by allowing them to analyze situations and plan before arriving at the scene.

What are the four key features of the EVA app?

The four key features of the EVA app include calling 911, texting, online video chatting with first responders, and an emergency medical information page that provides step-by-step instructions and videos on life-saving techniques.

How could the video chat feature benefit first responders?

The video chat feature could help first responders by giving them real-time visuals of the emergency, which would allow them to evaluate the situation more accurately and provide better guidance to the person on the scene.

What additional feature did the dispatch center suggest for the app?

The dispatch center suggested including emergency medical information in the app because sometimes calls do not go through, and having that information readily available could save lives.

How will the app impact the local community?

The app will help first responders in the community reach emergency scenes more efficiently by reducing the need for guesswork during their drive, which can ultimately lead to saving lives.

What is the primary purpose of the emergency medical information page in the app?

The emergency medical information page provides step-by-step instructions and videos on how to handle common medical emergencies, helping people take immediate action while waiting for first responders to arrive.