Vitals: Creating Clear & Calm Communication with Law Enforcement
Vitals: Creating Clear & Calm Communication with Law Enforcement
Vitals Aware Services is taking on communication between first responders and people with disabilities - and succeeding.
Almost one-half of people killed by police officers each year have a disability.
While this is a greater social issue, one tech company partnering with people in disability communities and first responder agencies is beginning to resolve the problem.
In 2017, Vitals Aware Services (also known as The Vitals App) was founded in partnership with the Autism Society of Minnesota, to create “clear, calm communication between vulnerable people and first responders in a moment of crisis.”
They have no funding rounds on record; regardless, in their first 4 years in business, they have made some groundbreaking technology. In fact, I believe in their mission so much, I will harass you with buttons to enroll your area in Vitals throughout this post.
Click the button to see if Vitals is active in your area. If it isn’t you can request they become active in your area.
Vitals Beacon
The most innovative part of Vitals is its Beacon hardware connecting those with disabilities to first responders (who participate in the program). For many people I have worked with, it has been a game-changer.
I’ll get more into what makes the Beacon so innovative as we go along, but the biggest innovation is it securely connects user profiles to first responders immediately. With over a decade of working in disability services, I can confidently say the tech Vitals created will be able to singlehandedly breakdown communication barriers if we’re able to get it to everyone that wants access.
Hardware
Vitals has, over time, made its Beacon hardware evolve with its user’s environmental needs.
Here are the company’s current offerings:
Shoe/belt tags.$20. Shoe tags are the OG Vitals Beacon and my personal favorite. Many people I have worked with choose to put one Beacon on each pair of shoes they own. That way every time they leave the house their Beacon is with them - no worrying if you’ve remembered your beacon or not! They are powered by a replaceable cr2032 coin-cell battery that should be replaced every 5-6 months.
Keychains. $20. The Vitals keychain is the same device as the shoe tag but attached to a keychain. This also is powered by a replaceable cr2032 coin-cell battery that lasts 5-6 months. Both the shoe and keychain options are considered their “Standard Bluetooth Device” when ordering, and you specify which type is wanted when placing an order.
Tags. $25. Vitals tags are similar to the keychain but look more streamlined and are water-resistant. They’re great to attach to hoodie zippers or backpacks and also have replaceable batteries - they have a bit shorter battery life of 4-6 months.
Waterproof wristbands. $40. The waterproof wristbands have been used most often in my experience with people that may leave without their shoes, without notice, and are likely to damage the non-waterproof tags. The waterproof wristband looks a bit like a hospital wristband, unfortunately, but it adds an incredible peace of mind for someone and their care team that may wander off and not be able to communicate personal details to emergency responders. This band does not have replaceable batteries, so the entire band needs to be replaced every year. The band is able to be switched on and off with a magnet.
USB port. $20. The USB port is newer and may have just sold me on getting my own Vitals subscription. I love the idea of keeping the USB port connected in my car, then if I am pulled over a police officer would immediately see my Vitals profile. Users will never need to change batteries, as it runs entirely off of your own power source. The downside of the USB port is there’s no battery, so the power source always needs to be active. We nerds are typically always connected to a power source though, and with this option, you can choose when you want the Beacon on or off.
Software
Vitals Aware Services offers two apps - one for community users to create their profiles (The Vitals App) and another for first responders (Vitals First Responder). While the Vital Awareness app is important for community users to have in order to quickly update their profile, it is more important for public agencies who partner with vitals (such as law enforcement, EMTs, and firefighters).
If a user with a Vitals Beacon comes within 80 feet of a first responder, the app notifies the first responder of their presence and gives them access to the user’s entire profile, including:
Basic information. Profile photo, gender, age, height/weight, and other physical descriptors.
Critical care information. Disabilities, communication preferences, and any other information the user or their care team finds important.
De-escalation techniques. De-escalating situations is critical, and that’s where Vitals excels. Users list specific de-escalation techniques for first responders to utilize with them to neutralize the situation rather than it escalating further. One of my favorite features of this is the ability to save video recordings! First responders can play these for the user as a way to help them regulate themselves (think funny cat videos, mom telling you you’re awesome, or some good old self-love).
Behavior triggers. First responders will have more context to the user’s situation knowing their behavior triggers and assist in removing any continuing triggers from the environment. (Loud noises, crowds, interaction with law enforcement, etc.)
Medical information. Medication, allergies, and other pertinent medical information can be listed here. This is especially helpful for EMTs.
Emergency contacts. First responders can contact emergency contacts listed by simply clicking their contact through the app.
The first responder will only have access to the user’s profile while the Vitals Beacon is within 80’ of that first responder. After the beacon leaves the 80’ radius, first responders will lose access to the profile and all accompanying information.
Subscriptions
Vitals is a subscription service, and there are several ways to use Vitals based on need: Vitals Profile 911, Vitals Profile Plus, and Vitals Plus Places.
You can think of the subscription options as how much access to personal information by first responders and potential caregivers is needed. Access to personal data goes from least to greatest based on the subscription plan.
Vitals Profile 911
Price. $2.99/month or $29.99/year
Platforms. iOS and Android
Data accessibility. Emergency dispatchers only
Location. Nationwide (United States)
Vitals Profile 911 allows users to create an entire Vitals profile for themselves on the app - the use of Beacons is not included in this subscription. Their information will only be shared if they make a 911 call, which allows dispatchers to access profile information via their phone number. Users are also able to show their profile to a first responder if they come into physical contact with them.
Vitals Profile Plus
Price. $5.99/month or $59.99/year
Platforms. iOS and Android
Data accessibility. Emergency dispatchers, first responders within 80’
Location. Participating locations
Vitals Profile Plus is the cheapest option that includes the use of the Vitals Beacon and app. Dispatchers as well as in-person first responders are able to access the user’s profile instantly. The downside? Beacon use is only available in locations that have partnering agencies. (Darn it! You better request them to be active in your area.)
This particular level of the Vitals App is such a game-changer because of the instant transfer of information someone is able to give First Responders physically near them that they otherwise aren’t able to - most of us aren’t carrying around a document with pertinent medical information and ready/able to pass it over at any moment.
Vitals Plus Places
Price. $11.99/month or $119.99/year
Platforms. iOS and Android
Data accessibility. Emergency dispatchers, first responders within 80’, caregivers (location access granted)
Location. United States- beacon service still only available in participating locations
Vitals Plus Places is everything I already love about Vitals (Vitals Profile Plus) in addition to setting locations. This feature is more for people that have significant support needs around supervision and are at risk for leaving without anyone knowing. With Vitals Plus Places, the user has an assigned caregiver(s) that has access to their profile. The caregiver can set location parameters of where the user typically is, and receive an alert when the user moves to and from the designated areas.
First responders do not have access to location data, which sticks to Vitals’ commitment to privacy that I love. The only downside is for every feature of Vitals Plus Places to work, the user needs to carry their smartphone with the app. This became an issue for most people I worked with, so we had to go with another option if they required location tracking. If the user doesn’t mind carrying a smartphone it will work wonderfully.
It is worth noting every person I worked with that chose to stop using Vitals as a location tracker still used their Beacon as a safety feature for interaction with first responders. They simply purchased an additional tech piece if continuous location tracking was essential for them without the use of a smartphone.
Funding
Typically in my reviews, I always have something to say about better ways to fund the technology- not for Vitals though.
All of their subscription tiers outlined above have received authorization for users to purchase their Beacons and subscriptions through the Home and Community-Based Services waiver — which is almost unheard of for subscription services.
What I would like to see is more funding going to Vitals to accelerate its growth. Any venture capitalists out there ;)
Vitals is genuinely making big progress towards reducing the communication barriers between people with disabilities and first responders.
In a perfect world, I would love to see every first responder agency enrolled in the Vitals App and every person with or without disabilities have a profile and access to a Beacon if they choose.
Onboarding Process
Having added Vitals as a provider for HCBS funding myself, I can say they have an excellent response and onboarding process from the government sectors to the individual user. Users are able to create a profile online or via the app, then Beacons connected to their account are mailed to their home.
Vitals has a smooth onboarding process for First Responder agencies interested in partnering with them, and are open to partnering with non-First Responder agencies as well such as schools, community residential homes, and nursing facilities.
Security
Vitals has great data security policies, which is impressive for such a young company.
No personal information is stored on the Vitals Beacon, which means if it is lost there’s just a little Bluetooth device floating around. No harm, no foul. You can order a new one or pull out one of your backup Beacons. Vitals is included in FirstNet and stores all personal information using AWS. Since this is not a medical company or device, they don’t qualify for HIPAA compliance.
Vitals is also stringent on who is granted access to user profiles through their onboarding process. First responders are able to see all users within 80 feet and lose access upon them leaving the area, but schools and other non-first responder organizations enrolled have even stricter access policies.
The non-first responder programs are only allowed access to user profiles enrolled in their program and at the program location, such as school grounds. There are exceptions for outings and field trips. This is a great privacy feature, as many people only want first responders to be aware of their disability or medical needs.
One person I worked with had a child in school. They utilized a Vitals beacon but were hesitant to wear it to their child’s meetings due to concerns of a partnering school potentially seeing their disability information. They were reassured any schools that partner with Vitals are only able to access enrolled students, so the school would not even be aware they had a Vitals account. They could continue wearing the Beacon without any concern for their privacy.
Vitals in action
When I think of Vitals, two user stories come to mind and quite the opposite ones.
User 1: A calming voice
One user was a young child that frequently wandered away from home. They wore the wristband at all times to ensure if they wandered away and were found by a first responder, their parents could be contacted as they were likely close by.
On this particular day, the child was very upset and found by a police officer while trying to run across a busy road. The officer pulled up the Vitals profile and played a video of the child’s mother talking, singing, and saying she’ll be there soon. The child watched the video over and over with the officer until their mother arrived. This story is the reason I love the video option so much. The child was able to stay safe and calm while waiting for their mother to arrive, and the police officer was given instructions of exactly how to support them.
User 2: Less interaction is better
The second story isn’t as heartwarming, but it is the reason I think Vitals is so important. An Autistic person I work with was often stopped by police officers that were receiving reports of “threatening or odd behaviors.” The individual was usually just going about their business, but people mistook their stimming as threatening or odd and contacted police. Needless to say, this continuous interaction with law enforcement was exhausting. It’s no fun to be asked questions by an officer every time you’re just trying to go out for the day.
When we became aware of Vitals, this person enrolled and put very specific information about their stimming and how to interact with them in their profile. Since then, they have had significantly less interaction with law enforcement. None of their behavior has changed, but it is likely that enforcement is able to see their profile and note they’re simply stimming and nothing is wrong - no action is needed on law enforcement’s part. This person is now significantly more comfortable going places alone and has had positive interactions with first responders since getting their Beacon.
Takeaway
In my dream world, Vitals Profile Plus would be available to everyone everywhere. And to be honest that isn’t too far off from reality in the United States.
Vitals has already set up multiple subscription options, secured government funding for individuals that qualify, part of FirstNet, and has a smooth onboarding process for everyone involved.
From what I can see, we simply need more partnering agencies and interested users.
Vitals is fairly popular in Minnesota, but less known in other states. Anyone can express interest in Vitals, and when ten users from the same location have expressed interest, Vitals will reach out to their first responder agency.
So if you’re interested, reach out. I see Vitals as one of the ways everyone, those with and without disabilities, can move towards more equity and understanding between marginalized communities and first responders.