Mobile App Design and Usage for First Responders

Abstract

Background & Introduction

Dhaka

Dhaka, Bangladesh has the highest population concentration in the world. The large population, economic growth and urbanization are raising transportation demands. The number of vehicles on the road has increased dramatically, leading to more road side accident.

The Problem

5.8 million people die of injuries and accidents every year in low and middle income countries without Emergency Medical Services. 82% of people die before they get to a hospital. There are one hundred and sixty deaths from road accidents (per 10,000 vehicles) in BD, compared to two in the US.

CriticaLink

In the absence of a formal Emergency Medical System in Dhaka, the majority of accident victims with potentially survivable injuries die before they reach a hospital. CriticaLink uses an innovative dispatch system and location-based mobile technology to save these lives by providing roadside accident victims with emergency medical care through a network of volunteer First Responders.

Smart Phone Usage

There are approximately thirteen million mobile phones used in Dhaka for a population of fifteen million people. Mobile phones are also used for money transfers through bKash, and are essential for daily life for many Bangladeshis. However, smart phone usage has been limited to the upper and middle class. The majority of these users are youth, who make up 35% of the population.

CriticaLink’s System

  1. A person is injured.
  2. Bystanders see and report the accident either through the mobile app or through the emergency number.
  3. Call center alerted of an accident from a mobile app report or from a direct phone call.
  4. First Responders closest to the accident receive a message to respond. This is a push notification with accident details, pictures, and a map with location.
  5. First responders arrive on scene to give medical help.