Video call feature to be available soon in LifeSaver app

Emergency call centers around the world are an important part of emergency services, as dispatchers who receive calls are the first to be contacted by emergency callers. The process of assistance is largely influenced by the information that is being provided to the center.

The only connection available previously was the phone call, but thanks to Vodafone Hungary Foundation and the National Ambulance Service's LifeSaver application, this has been supplemented with information on the location coordinates and the medical data of the caller.

All this extra information can significantly shorten the time needed to start the assistance process, the press release notes. The video call feature also allows dispatchers to see the real circumstances of the cases.

"As a technology company, we see the need for communication has changed: video-based calls are gaining more and more ground. This trend is expected to only increase, as the expansion of the next-generation mobile network, 5G, will also bring a breakthrough in video calls: the astonishing speed and minimal latency will allow instantaneous and real-time calls. For these reasons, when we first heard about the possibility of a video call feature in connection with the LifeSaver app, there was no question that we had to get into it, as this would utilize the benefits of the video function in one of the most important areas – healthcare,"  said Anita Orbán, CEO of Vodafone Hungary responsible for corporate relations, curator of the Vodafone Hungary Foundation.

In addition to other benefits, the innovation creates a more efficient communication platform for hearing-impaired callers. On the one hand, they can provide much more comprehensive information to the emergency call center, on the other hand, video connection also allows them to communicate in sign language. The add-on also offers the opportunity to provide the ambulance staff with valuable extra information, since the video call between the caller and the emergency call center can be shared with the ambulance staff en route to the location of the emergency, letting them know how to prepare for the right medical assistance.

"We consciously strive to use state-of-the-art digital solutions to save lives, including the LifeSaver application we launched last January together with Vodafone Hungary Foundation. With continuous development, soon not only will incoming data and audio connection, but also real-time visual contact support our colleagues in fast and professional assistance," said Dr. Gábor Csató, general director of the National Ambulance Service.