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Comment by netfire | Hacker News Reader

Requiring a picture seems like a little much, but having the option of some sort of video chat for 911 calls (maybe like Facetime with a cellular audio call fallback) seems like it could provide a number of benefits, both in eliminating false alarms, and giving first responders more situational information that would help them respond appropriately.

Taking it a step further (in the tech can solve anything world), it might be interesting if emergency responders could send some sort of push notification to people inside a certain geofenced area and ask them to provide a live video feed of the situation as well.

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The Houston Fire Department is doing an experimental project that is pretty similar to what you're describing, only they have first responders deploying the video conference with online medical control in order to avoid transporting patients that don't need it, and to link them to primary care services if that would be helpful: http://www.houstontx.gov/council/h/committee/20140821/ethan....

One thing I wish this article would have touched on is what's featured in the caption to the photograph-- the ability for FD/PD to transport low-risk patients who are just drunk or high to sobering centers rather than to EDs. It's a fairly novel approach, and has made the quality of care provided to these people (and those others in the ED who actually need to be there) way better.

Dreaming here, but I wonder if someone from the Periscope team could go around mid-Market/Tenderloin and try and get people to do exactly what you're describing. Spread the word: "Need to call 911? Use Periscope to educate the 911 dispatcher about the problem." Visit shelters, offices, etc. in a 1/2-mile radius or something and ask people to do it. Of course you then get into an issue where the 911 dispatcher is not the person who would actually know the street-level specifics, but you're right that there would seemingly be countless benefits. Tackle it from both sides, maybe, and talk to the city while you're at it (as slow as things move, the only way to actually change things is to start).

Right. I'd definitely share the video feeds not only with the 911 dispatchers, but with local fire, police and EMT workers, so everyone is on the same page and could provide additional insight from their knowledge of the area and/or specific people.

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