A team from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland is investigating new technology that might help reduce rural road deaths.

BBC News reports that the device would provide medical support and information to the first person to arrive at the scene of a crash on a rural road.

The device would be hand-held and is designed to be used by a doctor, nurse paramedic or trained community first responder. The gadget would monitor the patient’s condition before the emergency services were able to reach the crash site – researchers say vital signs could be monitored by placing the gadget on the casualty’s body at the accident scene.

Professor David Godden from the University of Aberdeen's Centre for Rural Health said:

‘Actions taken in the time immediately after an accident has occurred play a critical role in the casualty's survival.

‘We are investigating the creation of a device which would provide crucial support for the first person to arrive on the scene.’

Prof Godden said that statistics confirmed that road traffic accidents were ‘a major health issue’ in rural areas – and added that the emergency services faced ‘additional challenges’ when working in remote areas, because of the time it might take to reach the scene of an accident.

The first person at the scene would spend the time before the emergency services arrived gathering and analysing information the device recorded.

‘The technology could also have the potential to be transferred for use in situations in the home – for example heart attacks or asthma attacks,’ added Prof Godden.

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