Keeping up with the latest technologies and digitizing processes is important to get right in any sector, but with lives on the line, our nations’ emergency services are under added pressure. When rushing to the scene of an accident, whether on a remote mountain location or by the roadside, the last thing you want is an app with important location information not loading or the battery running out on a device with crucial patient health records.

Yet new data from SOTI reveals that almost all emergency services workers in the UK are experiencing problems with the mobile devices they use in their role, resulting in delays to incidents and the delivery of emergency care. Vulnerabilities on unmanaged devices are also leaving the sector more open to cyber threats. With emergency services organizations and sensitive patient data at risk, the sector needs to act fast.

But what exactly is causing these challenges and what’s the answer? Let’s take a look. 

The presence of outdated devices

Almost two-thirds (65%) of first responders believe their organizations are using outdated technology. This makes it difficult to integrate and work with new apps and other systems that require certain operating systems, and harder to push regular software updates, which, over time, can impact device performance. As a result, security vulnerabilities are not patched, bugs not fixed and device lifespans can shorten, all impacting employees’ ability to respond to emergencies and carry out their work.

Over a third of workers are still using pen and paper methods most of the time, due to their devices not working

This may explain why SOTI’s study also revealed that over a third of workers are still using pen and paper methods most of the time, due to their devices not working. But this manual, offline approach also comes with risks, as sensitive information could be lost, stolen or impacted by human error. Additionally, it is more difficult to share paper files, particularly in emergencies, as team members can be spread across multiple locations. This could leave first responders without the essential information they need to complete their rescue missions.

Is sharing caring?

Too many first responders rely on personal devices or have to share their work devices with colleagues, as one in five globally say there are not enough devices to go around their team or department, and three-quarters of these people experience this issue at least once per week.

Those who share devices may be working on different cases where visuals, notes and other content must be instantly accessible and organized. If they are sharing devices, user profiling is essential to ensure necessary data is accessible and sensitive patient information stays secure.

A quarter of first responders say they start their shift and find a device uncharged

Sharing devices does, however, expose daily procedural challenges. A quarter of first responders say they start their shift and find a device uncharged. For two-thirds of these people, this is happening at least once per week.

When it comes to using personal devices, there are additional security challenges, as these are often not managed by IT teams. Personal devices are susceptible to software vulnerabilities and cyber threats because of how difficult it is to provide manual software updates, troubleshoot issues when they occur, or lock devices down if they are lost or stolen. Yet almost half of workers are reliant on their own smartphones and/or tablets to conduct their job. 

Battery life… or death

Dealing with an emergency can take a long time and SOTI’s report shows that first responders frequently worry about their devices not having enough battery power. In fact, poor battery health is the most common issue reported by a third of UK first responders, which is impacting them as often as two or three times per week. This can be detrimental to an employee’s ability to do their job effectively, as these devices hold essential information that informs how a crisis is handled and the care administered on the scene.

Technology has great benefits for the emergency services sector and ongoing technological advancements are only going to make operations more efficient and effective

Many organizations lack the proper insights to identify if a device needs to be repaired, meaning devices are not properly maintained and issues are not swiftly addressed. This results in equipment quickly deteriorating and additional stress added to already high-pressure scenarios.

The takeaway

Technology has great benefits for the emergency services sector and ongoing technological advancements are only going to make operations more efficient and effective. Despite this, device issues and security concerns persist, if not managed appropriately. 

We’ve seen through our work with emergency services organizations across the globe that comprehensive device management tools provide the visibility and security needed to mitigate risks and relieve unnecessary strain on search and rescue workers.