Emergency Medical Dispatch Protocols are guidelines that a 9-1-1 dispatcher uses to evaluate the nature of emergency, resources to send and the nature of help provided to the 9-1-1 caller. The current Dispatch Protocols are based on voice only calls.

However, the Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) architecture will allow multimedia emergency calls.

Smartphones can be used to send and receive video, pictures and text. Smartphone sensors can be used to create applications to help monitor vital signs such as heart rate and breathing rate. These sensors can also be used to create applications that can provide guidance on how to do first aid procedures such as cardiopulmonary rescuscitation (CPR). 

We have developed protocols that will allow NG9-1-1 operators to remotely control a smartphone's sensors to gather additional information about the scene. 

The dispatchers at the 9-1-1 call centers can make use of these new protocols, procedures, and applications to improve the quality and the response time.