Using QR Codes To Save Lives

itwbennett writes "Paramedics in Marin County, California, may soon be putting QR codes to lifesaving use. According to an IDG News Service report, 'Lifesquare, a Silicon Valley start-up, has partnered with two emergency response agencies in Marin County to run a year-long pilot program. Lifesquare wants residents to input personal information about their medications into its website, then place corresponding QR code stickers where emergency responders can scan them with an iPhone.' The first hurdle: Getting people to put the sensitive information online. 'The way that we look at is that people already put their information into their driver's license, that's owned by the government, people put their information into credit card company's and that's owned by private corporations,' said Ryan Chamberlain, director of public outreach at Lifesquare."

Re:How about printing the information on the stick

[TapeCutter]

Yes, hanging a fridge from your neck can be a little uncomfortable and downright dangerous while swimming, but I agree it is more noticable than a pendant, bracelet, or sticker. The idea in TFA just inserts a middleman between the victim and the paramedic who expects payment for inconvienencing both. I predict that once this slashvesrtiment is off the front page we will hear no more of it (discounting the obligatory dupes).

BTW: The compressors found in fridges have a bad habit of exploding in a fire, often with enough force to blow a hole in the back and rip the door off it's hinges.

I have a better idea

[fph il quozientatore]

What if every US citizen had a 9-digit identifier, which could be used to look up their medical information online?

Re:How about printing the information on the stick

[Bill Dimm]

Good news: Since you are unlikely to catch fire while swimming, you actually don't need the fridge while swimming unless you want to keep your beer cold.

Re:How about printing a one use password.

[Hognoxious]

1 - Paramedic tries to connect to database.
2 - Paramedic tries again
3 - paramedic walks to other end of room and tries again.
4 - Paramedic holds it right.
5 - Paramedic takes a picture of your card to access.
6 - Paramedic's phone locks up
7 - Paramedic reboots phone
8 - Paramedic tries to reconnect to database.
9 - Paramedic tries again
10 - Paramedic walks to other end of room and tries again.
11 - Paramedic remembers to hold it right.
12 - Fuck it, he's dead.

- FTFY.

Re:How about printing the information on the stick

[WeatherForecast]

While it may be unlikely that you will catch fire while swimming, you should always be prepared to catch fire while water-skiing. As proof, the latest ICD-10 codes are ready for just such an event:

V9107XA = "Burn due to water-skis on fire, initial encounter"

I kid you not. http://graphicsweb.wsj.com/documents/MEDICALCODES0911/#term=Water-skis [wsj.com]

Additionally, this problem has already been solved for a group of people more likely to truly "need" it, and who do use it. You can find it at http://roadid.com/ [roadid.com]