Rescue Workers Need This Critical Tool To Save Lives

Most people use the cloud for things like sharing documents, keeping track of their finances, and storing music. Rescue workers use the cloud for something far more important: saving lives.

When disasters hit, first responders head to the field not just with rescue dogs and mobile units, but also with communications equipment and devices linked to the cloud. This gives them access to the latest, best information, such as: How accessible are the disaster victims? Are the bridges and roads still working?

Medical personnel need access to information on how to help patients with life-threatening diseases. Survivors need the cloud for services such as Google's Person Finder, which lets others know they're safe.

Data clouds have revolutionized rescue operations because they're cheaper to use and don't require transportation of delicate servers. Making use of a cloud-based infrastructure can help in setting up instant offices, or creating passwords that can be granted or revoked immediately.

In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, rescuers used the cloud by locking into the latest satellite information for updated maps. Information could now be shared more quickly, with key documents no longer sitting in someone's computer, inaccessible to everyone else.

Since Haiti, rescue workers have been finding new uses for the cloud. Rescuers can use cloud resources to tap into cultural information about the customs of host countries. How locals interact with doctors of the opposite sex, for example, can vary greatly from the U.S.

In Japan, after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami, many first responders used cloud-based language aids. Others used it to share data on radiation levels.

More recently, cloud technology was used to help victims of Hurricane Sandy with late-breaking storm damage data and information on where the shelters were. Apps designed to help in search-and-rescue efforts, such as those produced by the Red Cross, are increasingly common.

By allowing greater and more immediate access to crucial data, cloud technology has become a key part of any rescue operation, from the first sign of disaster to the lengthy recovery effort. While the cloud is perfect for our everyday use, it's moving beyond that. Someday it just may save your life.

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