Green Team's smart ambulance app: Selfie Aid

The Green team from the 'City Makers Race initiative' met yesterday to discuss implementation of initiatives that are aimed to further enhance ambulance services in the Emirate.

The ‘City Makers Race initiative’ was launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. The aim of the initiative is to boost government’s services and encourage cooperation among various government entities. The move is aimed to provide new government services to all segments of society and give departments a chance to compete as a team rather than a single entity.

As part of the initiative, various government departments are divided into teams. The green team consists of members from Dubai Police, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Ambulance and Civil Defence. The aim of the team is to further enhance the working of Dubai ambulance services since this service is shared by these entities.

At a strategic meeting held by the members of the green team yesterday, George Kordahi, was awarded membership of the team.

Members discussed the various steps they have taken so far to enhance the functioning of the ambulance service in the emirate.

Brigadier Omar Abdulla Al Shamsi, Deputy Director of General Department of Operations at Dubai Police, said: “The first initiative that has been implemented on a trial basis is to have doctors in the control room. This is to help Dubai Ambulance paramedics so that they have access to immediate consultation when they are dealing with critical cases.

"This helps further speed up the response time and paramedics do not need to wait until the patient is transported to a hospital.

"The other initiative that has been implemented is that a doctor accompanies paramedics in critical cases."

Unified emergency number

Al Shamsi said that the other initiative of the Green Team that is currently under discussion is to have a unified emergency number rather than separate numbers for fire, police, ambulance etc. “It is easier for the customer to remember one number and centralizing the control room will help further improve emergency services.”

Smart ambulance app: Selfie Aid

Al Shamsi also said that the team is currently working on implementing a smart ambulance app known as Selfie Aid. "If this initiative is approved, the patient or the patient’s family will be able to video chat with a doctor in times of medical emergency so that they know exactly what to do before the ambulance arrives. Again, this will help enhance the response time."

Lt Col Abdulla Hassan Matar Al Khayat, Deputy Director of General Department of Total Quality, Dubai Police said: "The other initiative in the pipeline is to raise awareness about first-aid among the public. We will hold first-aid training programs including Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)  training etc. for several categories of people such as mall security guards  so that they are well-aware of what to do in times of medical emergencies."

All these initiatives will be presented in September 2015 as part of the City Builders Race Initiative and a prize will be awarded to the winning team.

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