A new Android feature rolling out Wednesday lets people share live video from their phone with emergency services. So if you're on a 911 call and are struggling to describe what's happening, you can start streaming from your camera to help first responders better understand the situation.
The feature, called Emergency Live Video, is now rolling out in the US, along with certain regions of Germany and Mexico. It works on Android phones running Android 8 or newer with Google Play services. Google said in a blog post that it's "closely working with public safety organizations around the world to expand this capability to more regions."
How to use Emergency Live Video on Android
During an emergency call or text, a responder might want to see what's around you to better assess the situation and get you exactly what you need. They can send a request to your phone asking you to share live video. You'll see the prompt appear on your screen, and can tap to start sharing a live video feed from your camera.
With that feed, an emergency responder may also be able to guide you through potentially life-saving actions like CPR until someone arrives.
You can choose whether to share an encrypted live video with emergency responders.
Google/Patrick Holland/CNETGoogle says the feature is encrypted by default, and you can control when your phone's video is shared and stop streaming it any time.
Emergency Live Video works alongside Motorola Solutions' 911 command center software, which is "used by approximately 60% of North America's public safety answering points," according to a Motorola Solutions blog post. The software can help dispatchers know who to send in an emergency, and data can be forwarded via mobile app to first responders so they have the information they need to act immediately.
"Visual context can change the entire trajectory of an emergency response, whether it's coaching a parent on the Heimlich maneuver for a choking child or providing a lifeline during a home invasion when it's unsafe to speak but the video can speak for you," Todd Piett, Motorola Solutions' senior vice president of command center software, said in a statement. "We're collaborating with Google to deploy this to PSAPs across North America at scale, giving 911 the eyes they need to help you when seconds count."
Emergency Live Video is the latest Android capability designed to tap your mobile devices during a crisis. Existing features include Car Crash Detection, Fall Detection, Emergency Location Service for pinpointing where someone is calling from and Satellite SOS for reaching emergency services when there's no Wi-Fi or mobile network. Apple has some similar emergency features like Emergency SOS via Satellite and Fall Detection.
Android's Emergency Live Video feature could prove especially helpful when someone is in distress or in danger and is having trouble describing the situation at hand. That could include a car accident, medical emergency or a natural disaster.
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