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Supervisor Urges Storing Medical Data in Cell Phones

Posted on: Monday, 8 August 2005, 18:00 CDT

Aug. 8--Cell phones could be the newest life-saving tool for emergency workers in Contra Costa County if one supervisor's plan gains traction.

Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier is pushing an idea he first learned about while watching television news reports in the aftermath of the London terrorist bombings.

One broadcast featured a British paramedic urging people to enter emergency contact information in their cell phone address books so he and his colleagues could retrieve the data quickly.

The idea is to use cell phones as a high-tech medical alert bracelet, so if a person is unable to communicate with paramedics or police, the first responders could still retrieve vital, life-saving information, listed in the address book under ICE, short for "in case of emergency." Personnel could also contact loved ones or doctors listed.

The board of supervisors on Tuesday will consider DeSaulnier's proposal to have county emergency workers promote the program.

"When you think of how many people have cell phones ... if you're incapacitated or unconscious, it's an obvious way for the emergency responder to tell someone what's happened and just as important to get medical information," DeSaulnier said.

Emergency personnel could also learn such information as a person's medical conditions, allergies and medications.

The public awareness campaign would begin with the Sheriff's Office, the county Office of Emergency Services and the county's fire chiefs. From there, DeSaulnier hopes, the idea would spread to other Bay Area counties and beyond.

"It's simple and doesn't cost anything," he said.

The idea is being hotly debated among police, fire and paramedic groups nationwide, said Contra Costa County Fire District Battalion Chief Steve Maiero.

While the Fire District has not yet reviewed the program and hasn't decided whether to support it, the idea seems to have some merit, Maiero said.

"We would advise people who wish to use the program to also place pertinent medical and contact information alongside their photo ID," Maiero said. "I don't know if we're going to go throughout the house or through the car looking for a cell phone."

Contra Costa Sheriff's Office spokesman Jimmy Lee said it's a good idea but there are still many details to work out.

"What kind of information do you put in and how much do you put in?" he asked. "If someone lost the phone or the phone is stolen ... could that leave a person open to identify theft? We don't know."

Also, it might be difficult for emergency workers to quickly access information in a cell phone they don't know how to work.

"Do you learn how to operate all the phones or are there going to be standard ways to get at it?" he asked. "It's going to take more discussion, more thought, but just as a concept, we welcome it."

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Copyright (c) 2005, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.

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Source: Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.)

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