The RESPOND project enabled the Dublin Fire Brigade using mobile communication technology, initially developed for astronauts on the International Space Station, to gain crucial information about emergencies while on route to accident scenes.
The new system, for example, allows an emergency crew travelling to a fire to download the layout of the building, identifying where the hydrants are located and what chemicals may be inside. Respond empowers firefighters to prepare better, intervene faster, saving precious time and possibly lives.
For more information see: ESA
The PULSE initiative was designed to enable Europe to effectively prepare and respond efficiently to pandemic diseases or other major incidents with many casualties.
The European Health Service includes hospitals, community health services, pre-hospital emergency care services, medical suppliers, rescue services, health-related voluntary services, etc.
These are the core emergency response services to major threats (pandemic disease, major terrorism attacks). The PULSE project sought to explore how the EHS can adopt new technologies and innovations to better prepare and respond to a significant medical emergency. Within PULSE, a range of software tools were developed to improve the early detection of pandemics, streamline patient triage and missing person identification.
For more information, see:
Unmanned systems can now be used to enhance first responder capabilities and intervene in hazardous areas, for example, search and rescue at sea. The main objective of DARIUS was to identify a range of unmanned systems and integrate them to allow a coordinated unmanned response to emergencies. A Generic Ground Station to manage and coordinate unmanned systems was developed.
For more information see: Cordis Factsheet