The internet is an amazing wonder. It can connect people from all walks of life. Do you know that it can also make your community a safer place? IoT can help in the collection, analysis, and processing of data and information from a wide range of sources, such as flood sensors, RFIDs, medical devices, and smartphones. IoT has made homes safer and more efficient with smart homes and security systems. It can also make communities safer through accessible emergency and rescue services.
Here’s how IoT can help make the community a safer place for the population:
It allows for real-time evacuation.
Natural disasters can be deadly and can take tens to thousands of lives. However, a quicker rescue and evacuation can save hundreds, even thousands of lives. Mere seconds can make all the difference. This is where IoT comes in. It can provide real-time updates on the situation in high-risk areas. The use of IoT technology for emergency management is not entirely a new concept and has been the subject of many research and studies. Solutions using IoT can provide updates on water levels in flood risk areas. Once a certain level has been reached, people will be informed to be ready for possible evacuation.
It allows for quick emergency response.
Like evacuation, a few seconds in emergency response can mean the difference between life and death. With an IoT system in place, law enforcement and rescuers can be alerted real-time to an SOS call with information on the location, situation, and identity of the victim. It can also allow information sharing between different organizations to give a better and more reliable response.
Take the example of ambulance co-responders. Co-responders involve both members of law enforcement teams and mental health professionals to respond to mental and behavioral health emergencies and crises. Behavioral problems are sensitive and must be approached carefully.
With a mental health professional in the scene, the patient can feel safer and more at ease. Flashing lights and sirens can make the patient feel more anxious or nervous. A co-responder can approach the patient with subtlety and tact. Co-responder programs are made possible by connecting the devices of both law enforcement teams and mental health professionals to a cloud server where records and data are uploaded.
It helps locate people who are in danger.
Determining the location of a distressed person can be a challenge due to many reasons. Although triangulation can be done to pinpoint the exact location of the caller, the presence of interference, and the time needed to do it can make it hard to determine the location in real-time. The caller can also lose signal, especially if he or she is in a remote area, such as a hiking trail.
With the aid of IoT powered devices that run on the 0G network, a distressed person can be located. Panic buttons and trackers that run on IoT can send the location of the missing person to pre-programmed authorities. Hikers and campers can have comfort knowing that they can be located in case of emergencies and accidents. Responders can be in their location on time. IoT devices that run on the 0G network do not need cellular or Wi-Fi signals to work. Since an 0G network covers a wider area, it can make tracking the caller or the victim easier.
Location monitoring can be an indispensable help in calamities such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, and stampedes. They can also be used to locate kids, and are usually in the form of location monitoring wristwatches. These wristwatches mostly come with an emergency button that directly calls the parents in case of emergencies.
It allows for health monitoring.
It can also make providing in-home emergency care possible for outpatients and senior citizens who live on their own. IoT wristbands and watches can help monitor the status of the patient and ping for help during emergencies. Some seniors who prefer to live independently can greatly benefit from IoT enabled devices. IoT devices allow health providers to monitor the health and vitals of the elderly. They can monitor the senior’s blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate, and temperature to make sure that he is feeling well. There are also IoT devices that can alert caregivers in case of trips and falls.
Outpatients with critical conditions such as heart diseases can also benefit in the same way. These patients must be constantly monitored even when they are at home. With IoT enabled medical wristbands, early symptoms of a heart attack can be detected and responders can be immediately alerted. These remote monitoring devices make it possible for outpatients and seniors to live according to their terms, without sacrificing their safety.
The safety of the population is an important matter. Technology does not only make people’s lives easier. It also helps make the world a safer place to live in.
