ERinfo – Using facial recognition to keep you safe in emergencies

I am a big believer in medical ID. I wear one almost all the time. 

I have a few MyID Condition Sleeves on my Apple Watch bands and I love them.

But I also learned about another interesting approach that I want to tell you about.  I’d love to hear what you think of it. I’m also curious if there are any first responders out there who have heard of this or might use it.

ERinfo

ERinfo is a service that uses facial recognition to identify you in the case of an emergency based on photos you provide. It quickly provides first responders with your medical information and emergency contacts. First responders can also notify your emergency contacts with the press of a button. 

It works if you are unresponsive and can’t answer questions, like any good medical ID or service in this domain should. But what’s unique about ERinfo is that there’s nothing to wear and nothing to carry. You can’t forget to put it on. You can’t forget to bring it with you. I like that. You’re not required to wear, say, or do anything to get the help you need during an emergency. 

How does ERinfo work?

Once enrolled, you upload your photo(s), medical information, and emergency contact information to ERinfo.

In an emergency, first responders submit a photo using ERinfoPro for FirstNet® which matches you with the information you provided and gives the first responders your medical information. First responders can also notify and communicate with your emergency contacts with the press of a button. 

 ERinfo Medical Alert System

What is FirstNet?

FirstNet is a mobile communications and wireless data services network for public safety agencies throughout the US.

ERInfo for FirstNet® is a FirstNet Certified app and integrates with FirstNet’s Single-Sign-On system which provides credentialed first responders direct access to ERinfo using their FirstNet username and password, bypassing the need to additionally register with ERinfo.

ERinfoPRO for FirstNet® is free for all first responders using FirstNet through the FirstNet app catalog. Learn more here.

But do THEY use it?

I’m on board with the idea of ERinfo. But for it to work as planned, first responders in the area also have to use it. So I connected with David Finkelstein, the CEO & CTO of ERinfo, to learn more about their efforts to increase access for first responders.

As mentioned above, first responders access the service through ERinfoPRO for FirstNet®, which is available for free via the FirstNet app catalog. Additionally, first responders can enroll their high-frequency contact patients for free, too.

David said that download numbers for ERinfoPro for FirstNet® are not available. But he shared that there are approximately 4.3M public safety agents in the US, of which about 1.73M are medical first responders. His goal is to have ERinfoPro for FirstNet® on the mobile devices of all medical first responders within five years. They are working closely with FirstNet to encourage adoption and use through many of their programs developed specifically for first responders to reach that goal.

What do you think?

What do you think about a service like ERinfo? Is this something you would use instead of or in addition to wearing traditional medical ID jewelry? 

Are there any first responders out there reading? If so, what do you think about this? Have you heard of FirstNet? Do you use it? 

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Scott K. Johnson

Patient voice, speaker, writer, and advocate. Living life with diabetes and telling my story. All opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily represent the position of my employer.

Diagnosed in April of 1980, I recognize the incredible mental struggle of living with diabetes. Read more…