Last week, the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) in England introduced a groundbreaking British Sign Language (BSL) Relay Service to assist deaf individuals during emergencies. Starting in May, all ambulances in the region are now equipped with iPads featuring the SignVideo app. This app enables first responders to communicate more effectively with Deaf and BSL patients by connecting to a video interpreter in real-time, which enhances communication during critical moments and potentially saves more lives.

This new service allows ambulance crews to access a BSL interpreter 24/7, helping them to better assess patients’ conditions and understand their immediate medical needs. The app facilitates vital communication, such as asking life-saving questions and explaining care procedures. NEAS’s engagement, diversity, and inclusion manager, Mark Johns, highlighted that although health advisors already had BSL relay support, this new initiative addresses communication barriers that crews and Deaf patients often encounter, making emergency interactions more efficient and inclusive.

The implementation of the SignVideo service marks a significant step toward achieving equity in healthcare for BSL users, who often face challenges accessing emergency services. The app, created by Deaf entrepreneur Jeff McWhitney in 2004, is already widely used across various UK sectors for instant BSL translation. With over 100,000 video calls annually, it ensures quick response times, crucial for emergency situations. This initiative in North East England is part of a broader effort to improve emergency communications for the Deaf community globally, aiming to enhance outcomes and promote equality.

Source: Good Good Good

Similar Services in Other Countries

Several countries and cities around the world are implementing innovative solutions to make emergency services more accessible for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals:

Austria: Austria has adopted the NG112 system, which is designed to handle emergency calls via text, video, and other digital means. This system ensures that Deaf individuals can contact emergency services through text messages and soon through media exchanges such as video. The system routes calls based on the caller’s GPS location to the nearest appropriate emergency center, which is crucial for timely and effective response .

Netherlands: The Netherlands uses the Tolkcontact app or alternatively the 112NL app, which allows Deaf and hard of hearing individuals to make emergency calls through a video relay service. This service enables users to communicate via video with an interpreter who can assist in conveying their situation to emergency responders. This approach ensures that communication barriers are minimized during critical moments.

United States: In the United States, The AccessSOS app is designed to facilitate emergency communications for individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing. The app allows users to send pre-written text messages to emergency services, providing critical information such as their location, nature of the emergency, and other pertinent details without needing to make a voice call. This capability is particularly beneficial in situations where voice communication is not possible or practical. Users can select from a range of scenarios, and the app will format and send the necessary information to emergency responders, ensuring a quick and accurate response. AccessSOS aims to bridge the communication gap, making emergency services more accessible and inclusive for all.

ChatGPT, a potential tool for increased accessibility, was used as a research and writing aid for this blog post. Do you think this is an appropriate use of chatGPT? Why or why not? Let me know!