Uber 911(medium.com)
medium.com
Uber 911
https://medium.com/invisible-balloons/uber-911-5d28d7428de6
3 comments
[deleted]
Yes, the so called "vertical response time" is still a factor to be considered, though I'd argue this stage is on equal footing as in the case of actual paramedics, assuming the Uber drivers are given a clear mandate to enter the environment in these scenarios.
Regarding your point about whether drivers could really become qualified, I see no reason why not. CPR/AED training exists for a reason, and it has saved many lives. There is also precedent of providing emergency AEDs for civilians to operate in these life or death cases. See the typical high school gym, which will likely sport an AED. Perhaps it wouldn't be every driver's cup of tea, but I can see many drivers sign up if well-designed incentives are put in place.
Will drivers confuse symptoms of SCA with stroke? That's why they would be required to go through AHA's training course. You're right that AEDs can cost around $1000. Consider this in the context of how cars cost many times more than this amount. Further, the cost can be subsidized by Uber, as Uber stands to benefit financially when they save someone's life.
I agree with you that there is a lot of leg work required to make the further optimization of emergency lights/sirens. That would be something that comes later, and perhaps not necessary given that the median wait time is already under 3.5 minutes.
Regarding your point about whether drivers could really become qualified, I see no reason why not. CPR/AED training exists for a reason, and it has saved many lives. There is also precedent of providing emergency AEDs for civilians to operate in these life or death cases. See the typical high school gym, which will likely sport an AED. Perhaps it wouldn't be every driver's cup of tea, but I can see many drivers sign up if well-designed incentives are put in place.
Will drivers confuse symptoms of SCA with stroke? That's why they would be required to go through AHA's training course. You're right that AEDs can cost around $1000. Consider this in the context of how cars cost many times more than this amount. Further, the cost can be subsidized by Uber, as Uber stands to benefit financially when they save someone's life.
I agree with you that there is a lot of leg work required to make the further optimization of emergency lights/sirens. That would be something that comes later, and perhaps not necessary given that the median wait time is already under 3.5 minutes.
Great concept. Anything to get faster first assistance to an emergency is great though it seems like a bridging technology as I'm guessing airborne drones will take this role in the not too distant future. It would be interesting if a car with medical kit will get pinged if it has a passenger?
"Starting with SCA, Uber can begin to save millions of lives a year. It simply needs to mandate all its drivers to carry one automated external defibrillator (AED) and to go through the American Heart Association’s brief (only 4 hours) CPR and AED training course."
If you were having a heart attack, would you want your first responder to be an Uber driver with 4 hours of training or a qualified EMT? Would you trust the Uber driver to keep the batteries in his AED charged? Would Uber or the driver want to assume the potential legal liability of causing someone's death? What if you thought you had a heart attack but really had some other problem, like a stroke, in which case zapping you with an AED could cause additional harm?
By the way, I looked up an AED on Amazon, and it costs about $1000. If every potential Uber driver had to buy one of those, Uber would have a hard time finding drivers.
"With more investment, the emergency wait time can be slashed even further if Uber also finds the right partnerships to enable emergency lighting and sirens on its vehicles."
You can't just put lights and sirens on a vehicle and expect them to be able to drive safely through red lights. The driver needs to be trained in how to do that. In NYC, I've frequently seen drivers not stopping to let a huge fire truck with blaring sirens through an intersection, so it's pretty hard to do. No city would let untrained people try something like that - too much risk of death and lawsuits.