The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology “Next-Generation Incident Command System” (NICS), is an information sharing tool to help emergency responders.
NICS, a mobile, web-based communication platform enables responders on scene at a developing incident to request and receive assistance from remote experts such as university researchers or from topographic experts in real-time.
DHS S&T developed NICS with contributions from the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory www.ll.mit.edu since 2010.
In April 2016, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services www.caloes.ca.gov deployed the NICS software as the Situation Awareness and Collaboration Tool (SCOUT) for California emergency responders.
DHS S&T Directorate, has also partnered with Sotera Wireless Inc. www.soterawireless.com to develop a device that can monitor vital signs without connecting wired sensors from the patient to other equipment.
The problem is that responders must attach numerous wires and instruments to a patient to monitor their vital signs in confined spaces and/or in mobile situations and at the same time, they are required to manage multiple tasks
As a result, a system or device is needed to provide EMS personnel with a hands-free wireless technology to be able to monitor all required patient vital signs in one location. This technology will also allow end-to-end real-time connectivity between the emergency medical technician in the field and the emergency room to give doctors, nurses, and other staff better situational awareness prior to the patient’s arrival.
DHS S&T’s TechSolutions program with San Diego State University “Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology” www.ccatsandiego.org will work with Sotera Wireless to address the requirements for development of this technology. Sotera also plans to seek FDA certification for the wireless device.