Thumb drive could be lifesaver in emergency

A tiny, high-tech device will help local law enforcement in emergencies. The idea and company were grown here in East Tennessee.

The portable health profile communicates medical information when an officer needs it most.

Police patrolling the streets of Newport could face physical harm at any time. It's part of the job.

"Like any law enforcement agency, we're prone to the next traffic stop resulting in a shootout, or you may have an armed robber come through town," said Newport Police Chief Maurice Shults.

That's why the chief and the rest of the 30-member department wear a kind of medical dog tag called a portable health profile.

"Pop the lid off, and drop it in the drive," he demonstrated, pulling the dog tag chain out of his shirt.

The waterproof USB flash drive was developed by a company in Maryville.

"It allows that person in an emergency to have their entire medical history," said Rob Van Dorselaer. He is president of Critical Access, the company that makes the software for the device.

You plug itin to your computer and enter your information.

The device stores it. You wear it.

If needed, a doctor or emergency worker just plugs it into their computer and can see your allergies, prescriptions, X-rays, emergency contacts, CAT scans, even fingerprints.

"It really is a complete record that you can kind of take from all the different places you have this information and keep it in one place," said Van Dorselaer.

Chief Shults includes his driver's license and photo police ID on his portable health profile. "In the event that something happens, and I'm not conscious, they can verify that I am in fact the person whose medical information is on that drive."

Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice and Jabo's Pharmacy came up with grant money to buy the devices for the Newport Police Department.

Police officers who protect and serve now have a new tool to serve them when they need it most.

"It's one of those tools that you have, and you hope you never have to utilize it, but if we have to, it's going to be a fantastic asset," said Chief Shults.

The device can also help seniors consolidate medical records and have them available in an emergency or when they visit the doctor.