Have it text a family member when a seizure is detected so they can follow up with a phone call in a little bit to make sure everything is ok.
As more and more 911 centers accept SMS messages, it might be cool to allow the user to specify some threshold after which an automated text is sent to 911. The vast majority of epilepsy related seizures do not require an ambulance, but in the event of a seizure that does not stop in a 'normal' time frame[1], it could get help coming that much faster.
Since the app is intended to be used while sleeping, it would be pretty easy to include a preprogrammed address in the 911 message (perhaps with a geolocation 'sanity check' just in case the wearer is traveling).
I think notifying a friend or family member is probably the most important thing. They can follow up from there.
Text-to-911 is growing in availability (in the US, anyway), but it's far from universal:
I just lost a really close friend about three weeks ago to epilepsy. He had a massive seizure and died in his sleep. His roommate found him next to his bed the next morning. I can't help but think about how his death could have been avoided, so I absolutely see the value in this feature. As far as I can tell, notifications would be THE feature of a system like this.
Thank you for sharing that. It's very hard having someone you love and feeling powerless to help them at some moments. Sharing this really meant alot :) thank you
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Automatic notification would be a neat feature.
Have it text a family member when a seizure is detected so they can follow up with a phone call in a little bit to make sure everything is ok.
As more and more 911 centers accept SMS messages, it might be cool to allow the user to specify some threshold after which an automated text is sent to 911. The vast majority of epilepsy related seizures do not require an ambulance, but in the event of a seizure that does not stop in a 'normal' time frame[1], it could get help coming that much faster.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_epilepticus
We were thinking about that.
Would you see anything else of value?
Since the app is intended to be used while sleeping, it would be pretty easy to include a preprogrammed address in the 911 message (perhaps with a geolocation 'sanity check' just in case the wearer is traveling).
I think notifying a friend or family member is probably the most important thing. They can follow up from there.
Text-to-911 is growing in availability (in the US, anyway), but it's far from universal:
http://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/911/Text_911_Deployments.pdf
The story below really helps this amazing point.
I just lost a really close friend about three weeks ago to epilepsy. He had a massive seizure and died in his sleep. His roommate found him next to his bed the next morning. I can't help but think about how his death could have been avoided, so I absolutely see the value in this feature. As far as I can tell, notifications would be THE feature of a system like this.
Thank you for sharing that. It's very hard having someone you love and feeling powerless to help them at some moments. Sharing this really meant alot :) thank you