Stick-on patch for rescue teams

The system would relay back vital information from incidents

Researchers are developing a stick-on patch which could give on-the-spot information about a mountain casualty.

Wireless monitors could collect and transmit information about vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure from the scene of a fall to a hospital.

The University of Aberdeen and Centre for Rural Health in Inverness have been working on the device.

Mountain rescue teams welcomed the research, but said it would have to prove effective in extreme conditions.

The first stage of development would see the patch transmitting information locally, possibly to a hand-held computer, which mountain rescue teams could use.

It would be programmed to give them either a green light - all is well - or a red light - meaning something was going wrong and the team must consider medical treatment.

Willie Ross, of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, said conditions on the range it covers can be severe.

He said: "We certainly have to monitor the casualty and that unfortunately means stopping the stretcher and opening all the insulation so we can get access to the casualty for vital signs, like breathing, pulse and blood loss.

Researcher Alasdair Mort hopes the system can also speed rescues

"Although essential, the intrusion itself does not help the casualty."

Alasdair Mort, one of those working on the device, said the patch would prevent having to do this.

The next stage of development could see that information relayed from the mountain side to doctors in hospital.

Mr Mort said: "What doctors tend to be interested in is trends, what is happening over one or two hours.

"If the information could be relayed to doctors they could perhaps be better prepared for the casualties arrival."

It could be three to five years before the device could be commercially produced.