A new technology has the potential to forever change the way emergency management agencies operate. A new company called trainlu has launched an application to train first responders through a training video on demand system. The application streams training videos securely to every iPhone, iPad, android and even televisions in Police, Fire, and EMS stations.
While the everyday training of first responders was the primary focus of trainlu, a side aspect of the application may have much more potential than the training application. “We have the ability to securely stream video live to every first responder in a given area”, said Michele Smith the founder and President of trainlu.
In the beginning, the option to stream live video was designed to offer first responders the ability to view a live feed of a training class that was remote form their location. A brief conversation with an EMA professional changed the way trainlu viewed live streaming forever.
“We initially contacted the EMAs across the nation to offer them ability to stream training videos to the first responders in their respective areas” Michele stated, “And then after speaking with several EMA directors a new aspect of the live streaming was realized. Our application allows EMAs to stream live video securely to every first responder in a given geographic area who has any smart phone or tablet. We can also stream live to televisions in every Fire, EMS, Police and Sheriff’s Offices”.
“If the trainlu application had been available prior to 2005 Hurricane Katrina catastrophe, there might have been a different outcome. The trainlu application would have allowed the local or state EMA to give live video updates to every first responder in the state of Louisiana and even the entire nation to assure mutual aid responders were briefed prior to their arrival”, stated Chris Smith, Michele’s husband and a Lieutenant/Paramedic with a large metro Atlanta fire department. “The Louisiana EMA and Governor would have had a stronger command and control of the incident with the ability to shift tactical priorities or objectives in an instant thus keeping everyone on the same page.”
This type of pie in the sky technology has been available for years through complicated video conferencing systems that use dedicated servers and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The rapid explosion of technology that transmits video across the internet such as Netflix has made this technology both abundant and affordable.
“We now can equip an entire state with live video streaming for what it traditionally would have costs just to equip one county in the past”, Michele said.
With the 2012 hurricane season underway, EMAs across the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico are gearing up for what could be another devastating hurricane season. “The one thing I would like the EMAs to know is that we can literally equip an entire state in less than 3 weeks. While we can’t stop the hurricane from coming, we can definitely make your response to it much more professional and efficient” stated Michele.
To learn more about this new technology for first responders and emergency management agencies, visit www.trainlu.com.
