In Case of Emergency

IoT devices get help on the scene fast

In an emergency, a little bit of time can make a major difference in the outcome. First responders need to make decisions quickly, based on the information at hand. The more reliable and current that information is, the better the decisions they can make. And the more notice they have, the more they can save. IoT sensors that can detect subtle changes in things like temperature, vibration, atmospheric pressure, and air quality can provide early warning that buys precious seconds and minutes. They can cut response by a third, leading to more lives saved and less property destroyed.

Early Warning

Worldwide, natural disasters caused approximately 95,000 deaths and $380 billion worth of damage in 2023 alone, and worsening climatic conditions make such disasters more common. We know disasters are going to occur with more frequency, so according to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, it’s time to stop treating them like anomalies and prepare for them like eventualities. For every dollar spent on preparation that minimizes the damage saves $4 in later rebuilding costs, the office estimates.

IoT devices that can collect and relay data are the linchpin of these prevention efforts. That data can then undergo AI and machine learning analysis to recognize patterns or outliers that might indicate a pending disaster. These predictive analytics can use environmental clues to warn when a tornado, flood, or earthquake might strike.

“This is just the beginning. Climate change is fueling more frequent, intense disasters and traditional response systems can’t keep up,” Marty Sprinzen, the co-founder and CEO of real-time intelligence platform Vantiq, told IoT Now.

Vantiq has teamed with NTT Data to integrate advanced AI tools into NTT’s D-Resilio disaster information coordination platform.

“Every delay costs lives. D-Resilio proves that AI-powered intelligence can turn reactive crisis management into real-time, proactive response — enabling faster, smarter decisions when they matter most.”

D-Resilio allows for continuous real-time updates, recommending the proper course of action, and learning lessons from the response to use in future disasters.

“When disaster strikes, there’s no rewind button. The fires in Los Angeles and floods in North Carolina proved that reaction time is everything — and right now, it’s entirely too slow,” Sprinzen said. “Emergency teams need real-time intelligence — especially during a crisis — if they’re going to be successful in these high-pressure, rapidly evolving situations.”

Where’s the Fire?

The ALERTCalifornia program uses a combination of IoT sensors, cameras, drones, and AI to track wildfires. Cal Fire uses the program’s AI capabilities to monitor remote cameras throughout California.

“With over 1,000 cameras, it could be difficult for humans to monitor it, but it provides great situational awareness,” Marcus Hernandez, deputy chief in Cal Fire’s Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development, told StateScoop. “The smoke detection is great, and one camera can see quite a distance, so there’s quite an efficiency when you look to devices on a coverage level.

“The sensors assist with various things like thermal imaging, fire perimeters, preliminary damage assessment, including preliminary aerial and satellite assessment, to let those damage inspection crews know what areas to go to.”

When a wildfire breaks out, crews can snap to action, limiting the damage as best they can. As the battle against the blaze continues, they can monitor containment progress until the threat is gone.

In urban settings, IoT devices in buildings like the X-Sense smart smoke and carbon monoxide monitor, can alert first responders when they detect smoke or other signs of fire. They can pinpoint the location and intensity of a blaze, allowing firefighters to focus their efforts on the parts of a building in most need of being extinguished. Other devices, such as traffic cameras, can optimize firefighters’ routes to burning buildings, saving them precious seconds as they scramble to get there as quickly as possible.

Medical Response

When it comes to keeping people healthy and safe, IoT wearables like MyResQR can contact first responders when the wearer’s vital signs indicate a life-threatening emergency. This can get paramedics to them quickly at a time when seconds can make a huge difference in health outcomes.

Perhaps while the patient is waiting for paramedics to arrive, a drone sent out by the EMS team can deliver vital medication or equipment. The drone might be equipped with a camera live-streaming to emergency responders so they can guide people on the scene through next steps. The Verizon Frontline Team is working on solutions like that in partnerships with EMTs.

“To achieve this, it takes getting information in near-real time. That includes the person flying the drone (a certified pilot), the command and control team — whichever department is orchestrating the total response to a disaster, such as the fire or police department — and additional support to fly a drone in a densely populated area. Everyone involved needs access to the same information at the same time. This creates the opportunity for faster, and more informed, decisions,” certified EMT and Frontline team member Catherine Lester wrote.

When the paramedics arrive, they might be in an ambulance equipped with 5G capability to relay vital information to the receiving hospital so doctors there can work on a plan of action before the patient arrives.

“If we can make pre-hospital care more effective, that means you could potentially skip the emergency room and go straight to the next level of care,” Lester wrote.

With IoT capabilities, help not only gets there faster, it’s delivered more accurately and precisely. That’s of utmost importance when every second counts.