All of us need technology to progress and grow and connect with each other. However, beyond the workplace and personal comforts tech is usually used for, there are certain businesses out there that realized something. All this great, helpful technology should be used (via apps and such) to really help people when emergencies strike. Let’s take a look at some of those life-saving apps and technologies.
1. Home Defibrillator
We now live in an age where you can receive CPR coaching from your very own automated external defibrillator (AED). Excited? You should be! It doesn’t require a prescription and can be used by anyone — all the way from Aunt Betty to your grand-mom. Plus, it couldn’t be easier to use: the responder has voice instructions that guide you the entire way. Yes, it is a bit pricey (over $1,000). But think about these two things: (Bonus: the defibrillator only gives shocks as they’re needed – running a by-necessity test of its own accord!)
2. Hydration Backpacks
Yes, these have been around for what seems like a millennium. In fact, hydration backpacks are hardly news. But the fact is that hydration is necessary. We’d die without water. Some people would make it 8 or 10 days, but most people would last 3 days without water. When hikers and bikers are out in the scorching heat for hours on end, a nice, replenishing gulp of water hits the spot.
3. Robotic Surgery Simulator
Can you believe this? Robotic surgical training. The Robotic Surgical Simulator (called RoSS for short) is similar to a flight simulator — except for surgeons. This life-saving technology was developed by Thenkurussi Kesavadas, PhD and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at UB, and Khurshid Guru, MD and director of the Center for Robotic Surgery at Rosewell Park Cancer Institute. Nobody has to be told that this kind of tech is amongst the many technologies that save lives. Sadly, the number of people who are trained to use robot-assisted surgery is abysmally low.
4. Ambulance Drone
Putting a positive spin on drones, Netherlands’ Delft University of Technology graduate Alec Momont designed an actual ambulance drone that helps people in distress. He states that it will decrease emergency response time from 10 minutes all the way down to 1 minute — and we definitely need that speed improvement! You read that right: an ambulance drone. He even received a Frame Public Award last year for this invention. The device travels up to 100 km an hour. It arrives at each and every destination according to coordinates and even comes equipped with supplies. If this device doesn’t literally save lives, I don’t know which ones will.
5. Eliminates Time Wasters
I used to work the straight 9-7 — ten grueling hours a day. Stuck in an office, surrounded by imbeciles I didn’t want to spend any time with. Month after traumatizing month. Luckily, that all changed. We don’t have to talk about how, but I want to share this with you: I only did 5 or 6 hours of honest, real work a day. I’ll tell you right now that I could have used some real balance between work and life. In those times waiting for coffee, what else could I have been doing? Instead I just stood there. Like a drone. Waiting (sound familiar?). What happened with the rest of the hours? I took a lot of coffee breaks. There were even more trips to the bathroom. I spent a good 10-15 minutes on LinkedIn and Twitter a day. All these “time leaks” were eating up my productive time. I’m no longer working an office job, but I wish I knew about the coffee cup warmer. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like — and it saves some serious time heading to the microwave and waiting around for the coffee to re-heat. Something else that could’ve helped me back in the day? RescueTime, which keeps track of the time you spend on apps and websites. Warning: coming face to face with your e-activities may be a real shocker. Like suddenly having your eyes open after what feels like years of long, mindless sleep. How does reducing time-wasting activities save lives? Well, considering that this life is the only one we have, it’d be a good use of time to train ourselves how to handle life-saving opportunities when they present themselves, right? Another app that you might know about that does more than keep track of your deadlines is Asana. It also lets you talk with team members, like Skype or email, but with specific team members only. Project management extravaganza? Yes, please! (Side benefit? You can officially “miss” all those snore-fest meetings by communicating with — and only with — your dream team.)
6. Life-Saving Sponge
Sponge? Yes, sponge. According to FoxNews, this sponge can be the difference between death and life. In fact, the FDA cleared the technology to be used in the United States. Before that, it was in the strict hands of the American military. How does it work? By sticking the “sponge” in wounds, thus preventing victims and patients from bleeding out. +1 for humanity.
7. Portable Electric Generator
The benefits of a portable electric generator are easy to remember whenever the power goes out. You know the benefits of electric generators when your car battery dies and you’re stranded by the side of an abandoned road — one car goes by every half an hour. It’s pure hell. Maybe you need some juice for your power tools. Or you brought along your SmartTV for the family’s weekend getaway. Or perhaps your portable heater needs some power to keep the area nice and warm and save you from freezing temperatures. Whatever the case, there’s no denying the variety of uses these babies have come in handy. It’s easy to overlook this part of life-saving tech when it’s been an everyday staple of our lives, isn’t it?
Final Thoughts
Sadly, tech can’t do everything. As big a part it plays in our lives, the best way to save those lives is by enrolling in life-saving classes today. Who knows – they just might prove valuable someday. We never know, do we? Stay safe out there. Featured photo credit: pixabay.com via pixabay.com
