SCDF paramedics to be equipped with body-worn cameras
Paramedics from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will start carrying body-worn cameras (BWC) from Friday (1 February), with all paramedics to be equipped with the cameras by 2020.
The BWC, a compact device worn over the ear, will help improve the quality and effectiveness of SCDF’s emergency medical services, said the emergency services agency.
It will also provide greater accountability for interactions between ambulance crew members and patients.
Live-streaming capabilities in the future
In time to come, the BWCs will hace live-streaming capabilities, allowing off-site doctors to provide advice wherever necessary to paramedics attending to complex cases.
Assistant Commissioner Yazid Abdullah, director of SCDF’s medical department, said, “The deployment of BWCs will allow SCDF to deliver better medical care and accountability to patients. This is part of our efforts to use technology to enhance our emergency ambulance operations and improve patient outcomes.
“At the same time, we have put in place robust control measures to regulate the use of the BWCs and the recorded data.”
Recording to stop in certain situations
Paramedics will stop recording in certain situations to respect the privacy of patients, such as in maternity cases.
Only authorised personnel will be allowed to use the BWCs, as well as handle the collection, storage and use of the data. Any access to the data will be logged to enable audit checks. The data will also be
encrypted for added security.
The data will deleted after 90 days from the date of recording, unless there is justification to retain it, such as assisting in police investigations.
Any officer who misuses the BWCs or data will be dealt with severely, added SCDF.
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