How First Responders Are Adapting to New Technologies

Will AI Save Human Lives? As we continue to debate whether artificial intelligence will replace human jobs, there's a more profound question we should be asking: How can AI save human lives—particularly those who risk their lives to save others? First responders—our firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and disaster relief workers—face life-threatening dangers daily: 🔥 Firefighters enter burning buildings, face structural collapses, and breathe toxic smoke. 🚓 Police officers confront armed suspects, navigate high-speed pursuits, and enter unstable situations. 🚑 Paramedics work in hazardous environments, from highway accident scenes to unstable structures. 🌪️ Disaster response teams venture into collapsed buildings, flood zones, and areas with chemical or radiation hazards. While AI cannot—and should not—replace these heroes, it can serve as their shield and extended capabilities: • Robotic scouts can enter burning buildings first, mapping structural integrity and locating victims before human firefighters risk entry. • AI-powered drones can assess disaster zones, create 3D maps of affected areas, and locate survivors—all before human responders set foot in dangerous terrain. • Remote-controlled robots can defuse bombs, handle hazardous materials, and enter contaminated zones without risking human lives. • Predictive AI systems can forecast fire spread patterns, structural collapse risks, and flood progression—giving responders crucial decision-making information. • Autonomous vehicles can deliver supplies or extract victims from dangerous areas that would be too risky for human drivers. What makes these technologies revolutionary isn't that they replace human responders—it's that they transform how humans can respond. The human elements of judgment, adaptability, emotional support, and complex decision-making remain irreplaceable. The question isn't whether machines will take human jobs, but rather: How can we use these technologies to ensure more first responders go home to their families each night? We're already seeing promising developments: - Boston Dynamics Spot robots helping assess hazardous situations - Firefighting robots that can spray water in environments too hot for humans - AI systems that predict wildfire spread with remarkable accuracy - Autonomous underwater vehicles for dangerous water rescues The future of emergency response isn't humans OR AI—it's humans AND AI, working together to save more lives while risking fewer. #ArtificialIntelligence #FirstResponders #EmergencyServices #PublicSafety #RoboticAssistance #AIForGood #HumanAICollaboration #TechnologyForGood

8 frontline truths about fire service tech adoption from Kevin Swat on the Smart FireFighting Podcast: 1. New tech won’t save you if it slows you down. If gear isn’t grab-and-go and works out of the box, it won’t last in the field long. Firefighters don’t have time for manuals on the fireground. Tech needs to feel like muscle memory and just work. 2. Drones aren’t cool…they’re critical. During Hurricane Helene, Kevin’s team used a drone to check on a stranded resident. What would’ve taken a 2-hour hike became a 5-minute flight. Those hours saved meant more people reached, and fewer risks taken. 3. Wearables must do more than count steps Kevin clocked a 192 bpm heart rate during rooftop ventilation, which is in the life-threatening zone. Wearable data must alert IC before it’s a mayday. Providing real-time alerts to your incident commanders is a practical example of how wearables can help keep operators safe. 4. "Trial by fire" isn’t a metaphor; it’s policy. “New tech only sticks if it survives live operations.” The Mount Prospect FD committee model means wearables, satellite, and situational awareness tools are vetted by everyone in the department. 5. If it doesn’t play nice with others, it’s out. Tools like SARCOP and TAK enable Kevin’s team to geo-tag damage sites, request excavators or K9 units, and stream updates from the field. But only the team leader had the app. His takeaway? Tools should scale to the entire crew, not be siloed in a single phone. 6. Satellite comms aren’t a backup; they’re now a backbone. When Hurricane Helene wiped out cell service and Wi-Fi, Starlink became their lifeline. From team coordination to Facetiming loved ones back home, Kevin called it a game-changer for both morale and mission success. 7. The firefighter’s biggest enemy is poor communication which can be solved with tech When conditions get challenging, crews rely on instinct, radio, and hope. Redundant communication systems and smart wearables with real-time insights on health and position give IC the missing link: where people actually are and how they’re doing. No more relying on hope. 8. “Good.” Kevin lives by the Jocko Willink mantra. If the shift went sideways, if the tech didn’t work, good. Learn from it. Adjust. Try again. That’s not just resilience, it’s how the fire service gets better. Which insight from K Swat hit hardest for you? Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gUF7rPdc Apple: https://lnkd.in/gZCKpK25 #FireTech #ChangeManagement #SmartFirefighting #FirstResponderInnovation #FirefighterSafety #LeadershipInChaos

𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐏 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 The integration of drones as first responders (#DFR), combined with cutting-edge Internet Protocol (IP) video technology, marks a new era in #publicsafety. This LiveU approach empowers #lawenforcement and #emergencyservices with real-time #situationalawareness, faster response times, and enhanced officer and public safety. - DFR: A Strategic Advantage By deploying Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) ahead of ground teams—especially during large-scale events or active incidents—agencies gain critical visual intelligence before arriving on scene. A key milestone is enabling Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, allowing drones to cover greater distances and deliver what can be called “quantum situational awareness.” LiveU's flagship IP bonded field encoder for Public Safety and #tactical teams is ready to go - simply plug in your video source (drone, security #camera, or crewed/uncrewed vehicle/ HH camera etc), and start transmitting real-time, secure and reliable video into your selected destination - anywhere at anytime Benefits include: - Rapid location of suspects or missing persons - Advanced scene assessment before human arrival - Reduced risk to officers - Smarter allocation of resources Enhancing Surveillance with LiveU IP Video & LiveU Technology is significantly more effective when monitored in real time. According to the UK College of Policing, actively monitored systems are 15% more effective at reducing crime compared to passive systems. By leveraging LiveU's secure IP video transmission platform: - Real-time crime centers and dispatch units gain precise, high-quality video streams - Field personnel receive live intelligence with low-latency and high-reliability, even in challenging environments. Situational awareness becomes immediate and actionable. Key Enablers for Successful Integration To fully realize the benefits of DFR and IP video streaming, agencies must: - Educate the Public: Build trust through transparency and responsible data use - Advocate for Policy Reform: Enable legal pathways for BVLOS and IP-based surveillance - Invest in #Training: Equip personnel to operate and interpret data while respecting privacy The Road Ahead Over the next decade, cities are expected to deploy drone “nests” on rooftops of fire stations and public buildings, creating a responsive, city-wide aerial network. But success will depend on forward-thinking leadership that embraces innovation, invests in emerging technologies like AI and quantum analytics, and fosters a culture of adaptability. - Visionary public safety leaders must stay several steps ahead—not just one—to safeguard communities in a fast-changing world. CBRNE & CT ATLANTIC BRIDGE (CAB) FIFA World Cup 26™ New York New Jersey #uas #drones #firtresponder #cbrn #cbrne

Law enforcement faces a critical choice: embrace AI and data science to improve public safety outcomes or risk saving fewer lives. Think about this: A gunshot rings out at 2:00 AM. The traditional process relies on someone hearing it, deciding to call 911, and trying to describe the location from inside their apartment without the benefit of being able to visually confirm the location. (That's assuming they call in the first place—as 80-90% of gunfire goes unreported.) Now imagine an AI-powered response with an audio-recording snippet of the incident. The digital process gives instant detection and the precise location of the gunshot. Officers can now respond minutes faster to the precise location versus driving around the neighborhood in circles. This isn’t science fiction - it's happening today. These AI-powered technologies transform police response and, as a result, save lives and capture and preserve evidence, which is critical in improving case closure rates. AI isn't replacing officers or human judgment either. AI prioritizes the effective use of limited resources where they need to be. Police departments struggling with staff shortages of 15-30% have a golden opportunity to alleviate some of this burden by leveraging AI. It's clear that AI and data science are transforming law enforcement’s ability to prevent crimes and protect communities. Be part of the solution and define the future of public safety. Give public safety leaders better tools to make faster, smarter decisions that save lives.

Do firefighters only fight the fire? No, they are 'all-hazards responders'. Our recent publication in Applied Ergonomics, authored by Junho Park, PhD, Ava Rathenberg, Jenn Panko, Zach McGhie, and myself, explores the human factors and ergonomic (HF/E) challenges faced by emergency responders, such as fatigue, cognitive overload, and emotional stress. Based on a survey of 60 career responders, our study identified key concerns and proposed smart and AI-driven solutions like exoskeleton-equipped protective gear, AR tools for better situation awareness, and VR-based training. Increasing demands from disasters, being natural, technical, or pandemic, require more attention to and more investment for all-hazards responders. Here is the 50-day access to our article. https://lnkd.in/gMStubar #DisasterErgonomics #SafetyMatters #AllHazardsResponders #PublicSafety University of Calgary - Biomedical Engineering Department of Industrial, Manufacturing & Systems Engineering - Texas Tech University

Instead of just using AI to write LinkedIn posts, we can use it to help our public safety community save lives. For example, out of 240M calls 911 centers receive annually, ~68% are 'non-emergency' calls. Sounds like the perfect job for AI, doesn't it? Here's some context first… Every year, 911 centers in the US receive ~240M calls. The number of calls has been relatively stable in the last few years, but the number of 'non-emergency' calls - specifically those triggered by security devices is increasing A LOT. For example, Frost & Sullivan estimates that by 2027, 70% of all 911 calls will be triggered by a device, not a 911 call from a human. These 'non-emergency' calls can be: - Security alarm systems (98% of which are false) - People reporting a deer eating their garden - Someone asking for general directions - Person reporting a wallet lost at the mall - Reporting a power outage As the name suggests, these calls are not emergencies and don't require 911 attention. Instead, they waste the time & attention of 911 operators because they cannot decide what IS and what ISN'T a true emergency until they answer the call. If you ask them, 911 operators will tell you that handling these emergencies stretches them thin, leaving less time & attention for REAL emergencies. They may even tell you about a time when first responders were delayed from reacting to a real emergency … ... Because, by law, they were required to answer a non-emergency call first. Now, when you start looking for solutions, you'll most likely ask: - Reduce the # of non-emergency calls - Hire more 911 operators This is almost impossible because 1) the # of non-emergency calls will only go up, and 2) 911 is facing a staffing crisis as hiring is difficult. So, in the last year, RapidSOS realized that deploying AI is the alternative solution, and that's why we've built HARMONY. What it does is simple: 1️⃣ HARMONY answers calls to your non-emergency line. 2️⃣ HARMONY gathers the necessary information by asking questions based on the 911 center's configuration and guidance. 3️⃣ The call is seamlessly transferred to a telecommunicator if escalation is needed (based on local procedures). 4️⃣ Otherwise, HARMONY processes the call from start to finish: capturing the relevant details (where telecommunicators can monitor in real-time) and can even automatically create the Request for Service in CAD. This isn't a hypothetical. We're deploying HARMONY in 911 centers across the country today. So, yes, AI SHOULD AND IS solving big problems, not just to write LinkedIn posts. PS. No AI was not used to write this LinkedIn post :)

Oshkosh Corporation is showing us how sports car racing tech can help make first responders safer with one of their recent reveals at CES. The Collision Avoidance Mitigation System (CAMS) that was shown by Oshkosh is a system that detects how other vehicles approach stopped emergency vehicles in order to warn first responders if there is a vehicle approaching dangerously so that they can get out of the way and it based on technology developed by Pratt Miller and Bosch for multi-class racing in IMSA - International Motor Sports Association. CAMS detects the trajectory, speed and proximity of oncoming vehicles relative to a parked emergency response vehicle and provides seconds of advance notice of an impending collision, improving the awareness of emergency responders during roadside operations to keep them safer. The CAMS system works using a radar and camera package that records and calculates the distance of approaching vehicles. This package is based on one that was initially developed in order to detect the speed and distance of approaching cars in multi-class sports car racing. That original system from the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R eventually grew into a commercially available package known as the CAS-M 3 EVO which is used by a variety of cars in IMSA and worldwide. Race cars will usually have a single camera and radar module mounted on the rear, emergency vehicles could have multiple modules mounted in order to monitor approaching vehicles from multiple directions. When employed in a race car, the display will show how quickly a race car is approaching using color coded arrows. Emergency responders are typically not staring at a screen while working so the technology can be adapted to flash lights, make a noise, or vibrate a wearable. Most often look to racing to develop technology that might make production vehicles faster or make them handle better but it also can often be used to improve safety as we see in this CAMS package from Oshkosh that was revealed at CES.

I've worked in the robotics space for 17+ years. Over those years, I've often seen how robots could be used to keep people from being injured in dangerous tasks (which is amazing); but it wasn't until I came to Boston Dynamics that I was able to see scenarios where a robot actually protected or saved the lives of people. The feeling that you get to see robots impact peoples lives so positively, allowing them to safely come home to their families each night, is beyond inspirational. With our public safety clients around the globe, we tend to see #Spot being used to deescalate or inspect dangerous scenarios on a weekly basis. In the last 2 weeks, here are a few example of how Spot was used to keep officers safe and out of harms way. - Spot used by Houston Police Department to search the Church for explosives and other threats after the tragic shooting at Lakewood Church - https://lnkd.in/gy-56cdn - Lee County Sheriff's Office used Spot to help deescalate a bank robbery/hostage scenario - https://lnkd.in/g8RVK62S - Massachusetts State Police used Spot to assist in a barricaded suspect response - https://lnkd.in/ggbV_nJs It is extremely sad to see these events take place, but I'm proud to see how robotics technology can be used to keep the brave men and women responding to these events safe, ensuring they make it home each day or night to their families. #robotics #SupportingThoseWhoServe #RobotsForGood

Police and fire often respond to the same calls—traffic accidents, structure fires, and active incidents. Two agencies arriving to the same chaos, often with very different information. Drone as First Responder programs need to serve both police and fire. Sharing the live stream from a drone means both agencies make decisions from a common operating picture, improving resource allocation, response time, and outcomes. Fire and EMS need aerial intel just as much — not later, not as a handoff — but at the same time. The Skydio team recently attended FDIC International, where a scenario involved victims injured on a rooftop after an electrical fire. The takeaway was clear: getting a drone on scene fast, flying low, and into tight spaces can give crews the intel they need before committing resources — and potentially save lives. Same drone, shared stream, one mission: keeping people safe.

When a #disaster happens, you can't waste any minute, and accurate, up-to-date data is crucial for disaster response.   This March, heavy rains in the municipality of Mimoso do Sul, Espírito Santo, Brazil, led to severe flooding, resulting in deaths and damages. To plan their actions, first responders led by the Jones dos Santos Neves Institute (IJSN) tried to use satellite imagery, but due to the dense cloud cover of the area and low resolution of images, this data didn't help much. Luckily, the IJSN and its partners had drones that helped to overcome this challenge. They used SPH Engineering #UgCS to plan and execute photogrammetry missions and capture geospatial data in these challenging conditions. Over two days, they collected thousands of photos, integrated these images with other data and identified almost 4,000 properties in the city heavily affected by the flooding.