Safety of the lone responder
A new solution which will enhance the safety of paramedics has been launched by Airwave, the UK's leading public safety communications provider.
Omniguard is a personal safety solution which enables enhanced monitoring of paramedics when working alone or in potentially threatening situations. It is designed for use with the new Airwave radio service currently being deployed to all ambulance trusts – importantly, this means there is no need to equip paramedics with an additional device, and trusts can be assured of high levels of coverage and reliability.
Paramedics can activate Omniguard through a dedicated short key on their Airwave handset. This allows the control room to monitor the paramedic's status and location and it triggers regular status messages. If the paramedic fails to respond within a set timeframe the control room can instigate support procedures. Omniguard is fully compatible with the existing emergency button on Airwave radios.
David Sangster, head of Airwave's health division, said: "Assaults or serious attacks to NHS staff have reached significant level, so protective measures are of paramount importance. Omniguard has been designed with input from paramedics, so it's intuitive and easy to use. Because it can be integrated into the paramedic's new handset, there is no need for trusts to buy and maintain additional devices or confuse users with more technology. And because it's delivered by Airwave, paramedics can rest assured it will work in even the most remote areas and under the most pressurised circumstances."
Airwave developed Omniguard in partnership with Yorkshire Ambulance Service whose paramedics were involved in a proof of concept trial.
David Johnston, Assistant Information Management and Technology Director at Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: "We were keen to work with Airwave to develop Omniguard as it makes sense to use the radio equipment we already have to protect our paramedics. Our involvement in the trial enabled us to give input to the development of Omniguard, ensuring it is easy for busy paramedics to use and that it meets their needs."
Airwave is now looking to adapt Omniguard to meet the needs of other healthcare professionals by extending it to support other technologies, such as GPRS and WiFi.
