Technology will help first responders monitor patient vitals in chaotic situations

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate and the Department of Energy (DOE) Pacific Northwestern National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed VitalTag, technology that can assist medical first responders in monitoring the vital signs of victims in a mass casualty situation.

VitalTag has been under development for 18 months and recently passed the prototype stage. The technology works by connecting a suite of sensors to a victim’s chest, ear and index finger. The person’s vital signs are shared among EMTs and paramedics at a disaster site via their mobile devices.

Information will be used to prioritize which patients need the most urgent care.

“It is a resource multiplier,” Luke Gosink, team lead at PNNL said. “Yes, ambulances have these types of equipment, but usually only a few of each. With VitalTag, many more patients can be monitored simultaneously and continuously. More situational awareness, like that achieved with VitalTag, can result in better patient outcomes.”

PNNL has kept production of VitalTag units to under $100.

The technology currently in use is either not portable, heavy and bulky, or is not an all-in-one suite.

The researchers developed 25 VitalTag units. Five are for operational purposes, and the rest were used for DHS testing purposes.