Since we launched Tap2Tag in May 2014 we have been asked two questions over and over again.  The first is "Why didn't I think of that?" and the second was simply "You should go on Dragons' Den."

Well we have been keeping very, VERY tight lipped about this but we are pleased to announce that our pitch to the Blaze of Dragons is being made on Sunday 27 December 2015 at 8pm.  Our lips remain sealed as to the outcome but please watch and ask friends, family and complete strangers to tune in to the show.

We have also been asked over the last 12 months "How will anybody ever know about tap2tag?"  That's why we have invested so much time and energy demonstrating the device with the emergency services, charities and other healthcare professionals.  But having our device shown on national TV with an audience of around 3.2mn means that 5% of the UK's population will see tap2tag in action.  And as we all know, once you have seen it work, you cannot help but tell your friends, family and complete strangers all about it.

But did we get any investment?  You will just have to wait and see!

So please tune in to BBC2 at 8pm on Sunday 27 December.

Chris Ford, Managing Director, Tap2Tag Limited

It's a question we get asked a lot.  Apple have been very prudish about allowing the NFC chip built into their iPhone 6 & 6S to be extended to be used by other systems, including Tap2Tag.  However there is some light at the end of the tunnel.  The chip included within the iPhone 6S is different from that installed in the iPhone 6.  There’s no news yet on whether the phone maker has added support for NFC tag read/write or peer-to-peer communication modes in the devices announced in September 2015, however. NFC World has asked Apple for further clarification.

But industry insiders believe that the chip changes will mean that a change Apple's IOS will allow the iPhone 6S to work with other NFC systems.

Sales of iPhones go up and down as a new model is launched but on average Android & Windows phones (mainly Android) outsell Apple nearly 2 to 1.

This is a great website that shows worldwide sales on a month and annual basis.

As at September 2015 the figures were as follows:

UK - Android/Windows sales 61.2%, iPhone 38.3%

Germany - Android/Windows sales 81.3%, iPhone 17.5%

France - Android/Windows sales 84.6%, iPhone 16.6%

USA - Android/Windows sales 69.8%, iPhone 29.2%

And remember these figures represent sales for the new iPhone 6S.  So when you hear someone make the statement "But everyone has an iPhone" the facts don't really bear this out.

Tap2Tag does work with iPhones using Safari and entering the unique code etched onto each wristband at our emergency website www.tap2.me.  But with a little more pressure on Apple they will hopefully be updating their IOS soon to allow their 6S to be used with other services, including the London Oystercard.

Calling the emergency services means that there is an EMERGENCY.  Unfortunately some people's definition of an emergency can stretch a point or two.  We have collected our favourite 20 stories from around the globe to highlight what are definitely NOT emergencies.

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1. A young man asked for an ambulance to be sent because he had severe facial bleeding. When the paramedics got there the “facial haemorrhage” turned out to be a spot that he had picked at and that was bleeding.

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2. Police: “Police emergency.”

Caller: “Um. Yes I’ve lost my glasses. The ones for my near-sight.”

Operator: “Right.”

Caller: “And I’m trying to get my lunch and I can’t see to do my potatoes very well.”

Police: “Right. But you’re through to the police.”

Caller: “I know.”

Police: “Well I can’t come and look for your glasses. I'm sorry but you’ll have to peel your potatoes on your own.”

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3. Fire: “Fire brigade.”

Caller: “Excuse me. Er, I was at Tesco’s and a friend of mine, well, he’s not a friend of mine – an idiot of....he threw my shoe on top of the shop of Tesco and I need to get it back down. Can you come and help me?”

Fire: “No. Fire brigade won’t do that. You’ll have to contact Tesco. They’ve got access to the roof.

Caller: “Why don’t they send me a ladder up there? I’ll get it down.”

Fire: “No. Fire brigade won’t come out for that.”

Caller: “So what do you want me to do? Walk around with no feet...on my shoe?”

Fire: “Go to Tesco and ask them to go on their roof.”

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4. Caller: Yes, I want to tell you about my central heating. It’s not hot enough.

Operator: It’s not hot enough? This is an emergency number. What do you want us to do?

Caller: Well, it broke and a chap came to fix it. Now it’s working again but it’s not as hot as it used to be. I think he must've stolen some heat from me. I want to tell the police. I’ve got his card with his number on it.

Operator: Are you saying that your boiler engineer stole some heat from you?

Caller: Well, he must have done or else why is it not as hot as it was before?

Operator: Have you tried your thermostat sir?

Caller: What’s a thermostat?

Operator: It’s a little dial usually on your wall. It regulates the temperature. You may just need to turn it up.

Caller: Well, OK thank you I’ll try that. Can I call you back if it becomes clear that he’s stolen some heat?

Operator: I’d rather you didn't sir.

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5. On Christmas Eve a man called the emergency number to ask what the temperature was. He also wanted to know the weather forecast over Christmas. He was told to watch television or listen to the radio.

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6. Caller: Help! Help! Send the police and an ambulance. I have been stabbed.

Operator: You said you have been stabbed?

Caller: Yes, I’ve been stabbed.

Operator: How many times were you stabbed?

Caller: This is the first time.

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7. ''The Chinese takeaway I ordered is 45 minutes late. I want you to prosecute the takeaway for ripping me off.''

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8. One day, a woman with her husband and 3 week old child decided to go to a corn maze. Stop and let that sink in for a minute. This woman gave birth less than a month ago, and she’s already taking this child out in the cold where you can almost certainly get lost. What happened? They got lost. The woman called 911 and police were dispatched to them while her husband’s eyes probably rolled all the way back in his head.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for police to escort the family to safety. When found, they were less than 25 feet away from the exit.

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9. One night during the summer 15 "999" calls were made all reporting UFOs in the sky over Cornwall. It turned out the spectacle was lights and lasers from a concert at the Eden Project.

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10. A dwarf circus performer fell victim to a circus act gone bad and had to have an ambulance called. When the circus comes to town, the hospitals in the area are immediately on red alert; it just comes with the territory. But there probably wasn’t a ton of preparation for this type of, uh… accident.

Part of his act involved a vacuum sticking to his crotch region (this is why people go to the circus, right?), but the attachment used for the illusion broke before the performance. He hastily superglued it together backstage, but due to a tragic glue miscalculation the attachment was more permanent than intended, resulting in hospitalization. It’s totally understandable if you’re not laughing right now.

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11. ''There's been a pigeon in my back garden for the past three days – it's got a tag on.''

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12. A woman called to complain that her local McDonald’s had run out of Chicken McNuggets. She had already placed her order and was waiting for her food when she was told that they had run out.

Since they had processed the transaction through the till they asked her to choose something else off the menu but she was furious and called the police telling them that it was an emergency and demanding that a police officer come to help her.

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13. A 15-year-old girl became trapped in a cat flap. She had returned home in the early hours of the morning without her house keys and so tried to squeeze herself through - but got stuck.

She called West Midlands Fire Service to ask them to free her.

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14. ''Can one of your officers come around to my house to tell my sons to calm down?'' [We've been there]

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15. Caller: “Hi. Can you send one of your rescuers please. There’s a grey squirrel with no hazelnut trees.”

Police: “There’s a grey squirrel with no hazelnut trees?”

Caller: “Yeah.”

Police: “And you’re phoning 999 for that?”

Caller: “Yeah because his life is in danger. It’s a grey squirrel. It’s a rare species.”

Police: “Grey squirrels are not rare, it’s the red squirrels that are rare.”

C: “Well I’m not being funny, but it’s sort of half and half. It might be a cross-breed.”

Police: “OK thanks for your call.”

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16. Police: “What’s your emergency?”

Caller: “I’ve run out of toilet roll.”

Police: “And you’re calling 999 for that reason?”

Caller: “Oh is this 999?”

Police: “Yeah.”

Caller: Oh sorry. Wrong number.

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17. Police: “Hello police.”

Caller: “My wife left me two salmon sandwiches which was leftover from last night and I’m sat in the chair here and she won’t put no food out for anybody. I don’t know what...”

Police: “I'm sorry but I really can’t take this. It’s not an emergency because your wife won’t give you anything to eat.”

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18. A woman bought a rabbit from an advertisement a breeder had put in a newsagent’s window. When she collected the pet its ears were not floppy enough so she asked for the police to arrest him for fraud.

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19. Caller: (whispering) I can’t see anything, I think I’ve been kidnapped. I’m wearing a blindfold…

Operator: Are you moving?

Caller: No I’m lying still. Wait, I’m trapped.

Operator: Are you ok? Can you sit up?

Caller: Oh, yes, hold on a minute. It’s just my duvet. I woke up with it covering my head and thought someone had done something to me.

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20. ''I bought a pair of jeans at a shop last week and took them back but the shop won't give me a refund.''

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So next time you call for the emergency services please check that it really is an emergency.

Back in 2007 Bristol City Council (UK) and South Gloucestershire Council initiated a new emergency card to be issued to carers so that they could be identified as people who may have someone who depends on them.  These were free cards that were designed to alert the emergency services that, in the event of a carer falling ill, then there may be someone who needs their help too.

The emergency services would then contact Adult Community Care (or similar agency) who will then ensure that the cared for person is safe.

Since 2007 the scheme has been rolled out around the rest of the country and even been adopted by charities such as the Carer's Trust.

 

In essence this is a really important mechanism that ensures that vulnerable people are cared for when their own carers are involved in an accident or become incapacitated.  Typically these are designed for carers of those looking after loved ones with Alzheimer's Disease, dementia and those who are disabled.

The Gap Between a Good Idea and Reality

It is beyond question that the emergency services need to know if their patient (who may be unconscious) is also a carer.  The scheme is therefore vital to ensuring the safety of those who are cared for.  But evidence we obtained from our attendance at the Emergency Services Show ("ESS") in September may give cause for concern.  We spoke to over 1,000 members of the police and ambulance services at the ESS and asked them all the same question.  "When treating a patient would you ever look in their purse, wallet, handbag or even their mobile phone to gain more information on the patient?"  The overwhelming response was NO.  We were told that there have been a number of allegations in recent years from members of the public that money and personal effects had gone missing with fingers being pointed at the emergency responders.  As a result many Trusts had amended their policies so that paramedics should not look in purses etc to avoid any claims of theft.

So where does this leave the emergency carer's card?  Unfortunately it may take a significant amount of time before anyone recognises that the patient is a carer.  In fact they may have to wait until the patient recovers consciousness before the cared for person is recognised.

We also recently attended a Memory Cafe organised by the local Alzheimer's Society group.  When we mentioned that paramedics would not look in a patient's wallet or purse, there was obvious concern raised by those carers attending.  The only place paramedics are likely to look is on a wrist, which is why we think the tap2tag wristband can bridge the gap.

We did some more research and there are some interesting posts on the internet.  You might want to check out this feed on Facebook as it covers some of the issues in the US too.  Bottom line is that wristbands are the best way of communicating your medical information.

https://www.facebook.com/EmergencyMedicalServices/posts/208207400073

As a wearer of a tap2tag medical alert wristband you can enter information about the person you are caring for.  As a result their needs will be administered to more promptly than if they carried a card.

So we are just recovering from a hectic couple of days at the NEC last week where we attended the Emergency Services Show at the NEC, Birmingham.  Throughout 2015 our goal has been to raise awareness of tap2tag to as many people within emergency healthcare in the UK.  The show represented the most elegant way of showcasing the product to those in the front line.

From the moment the doors opened we had a steady stream of visitors to our stand.  But with every demonstration of the wristbands the crowds grew and grew.  In the end we were demonstrating the product to around 8 people at a time, every 10 minutes.

From talking to the attendees at the show it became clear that our stand was the busiest at the whole show.

The ESS is attended by paramedics, doctors, fire crews and the police.  Representatives from all over the country were present.  There were also some big businesses represented at the show, demonstrating varied and new equipment to be used in emergency situations.

FEEDBACK

The aim was to raise the awareness of the device and tap2tag system with front line emergency services' personnel.  What we were not expecting was the wave of gratitude and amazement from those attending.  The paramedics were stunned that it was so easy to use and were trying out our sample devices using their own phones just to see if there was some "magic" involved!  West Midlands Ambulance Service had the stand opposite to us and they were blown away by the simplicity of the wristbands.  All paramedics we spoke to liked the new design of the wristbands despite the fact that there is no ink printing on the face.

Kevin Place from NHS England visited the stand and said that this was "The best thing I've seen all day".  Other comments were "Amazing" and "Simply Brilliant"

Every member from the emergency services who came to the stand took away some samples to show their colleagues back at their own workplace.  They were all keen to demonstrate the system and continue the awareness within their service.

 

WHAT NEXT?

Over 80 people left their contact information with us for follow up.  In particular they wanted our electronic version of the tap2tag leaflet so that this could easily be shared amongst their teams.  In fact we have potentially secured 5 new re-sellers for the product, both in the UK and overseas, as a direct result from the show.  Although this was not the intention of attending the Emergency Services Show, it was a nice surprise.  As we left the show the guys and gals from the West Midlands Ambulance Service all shook our hands and said simply "Well done".

So that makes the show a bit of success.  We will continue to follow up on those who expressed an interest in the product to ensure that all emergency services are aware.

Over the last few months we have been working with East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust about the possibility of expanding the medical profile to enhance the abilities for users.  We have also been listening to our customers and other healthcare professionals.  So here are some important changes that have now been added to the tap2tag medical profile.

STORING MEDICAL NOTES

This is a massive evolution of the tap2tag system.  You can now upload PDF documents into your medical profile.  This can include a care plan, patient passport, letter from your consultant laying out your medical condition or anything else you feel is relevant.  You can even load up copies of a "Do Not Resuscitate"  letter or maternity notes.  The system will also record the date and time that these documents have been uploaded.  Even without a formal document, healthcare professionals can add in a summary of the document.  A care plan can run to 25 pages or be just a few sentences.  In the latter case we have a space available where a summary can be provided.

When a first responder accesses your full medical profile they will be able to access the documents on the mobile phone by simply tapping the "Download" option.  This means that your care plan is now completely portable.

ADDITIONAL MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS

We have now built in the ability for users to add more than one medical contact.  We recognised that although a GP's details might be important, those with more complex medical conditions might want to document the contact details for their neurosurgeon or specialist nurse.  In an emergency these individuals might have more up-to-date and relevant information about the patient's medical condition.  You can add as many medical professionals as you like to the profile.  Please also ensure that the country where those contacts are located is also registered, especially when you are travelling abroad.

FORWARDING A MEDICAL PROFILE

For the UK only (currently) we have added a button, when viewing a patient's full medical information, that will allow a first responder to forward a copy of the unique URL link to an NHS employee.  So if a paramedic sees the information on a by-standers phone they can ask for it to be forwarded to their own email address.  Profiles can only be forwarded to individuals with an email address with the suffix nhs.uk or nhs.net, thereby ensuring confidentiality.  We will look to extend this service to other countries over the coming months.

COOKIE CONTROL

We have added additional security to the website by introducing cookie controls.  This means that, just like your internet banking, you will be logged out of the site after 5 minutes if there has been no activity.  You will be given a 30 second warning before that happens.  This is also the same for anyone viewing your profile.  This ensures that your medical information does not stay on the person's mobile phone or computer screen.

MEDICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY

Doctors and healthcare professionals also need to know about your family history so we have added a new field within the medical notes to allow you to talk about this.  If you have family members that have suffered from particular medical conditions then it's a good place to put this information.

NHS NUMBER

Within the UK your NHS number is particularly important as this will allow medical professionals to access your NHS data quickly.  This number, if entered, will appear on the public profile when the devices are first accessed.  This replaces the display of the Medic Alert number on the public profile page.

TIME STAMPS

When viewing a person's medical profile you will now be able to see the date and time that the profile was last amended.  For the user you will also be able to see this within your profile dashboard.  Time stamps will also appear by any documents uploaded into the profile to indicate when these were added.  This will give paramedics a view on how old the document is and consider its relevance when treating the individual.

IMAGE EDITING

You can now move your profile image around and even rotate it to get your face in full view in the space provided.  We noted that, sometimes, an image can be uploaded but it is at 90 degrees.  So now you can edit the image, rotate it and even zoom in and out.

RELIGION

We have a new field to specify the religion of the individual.  It is not a mandatory field but we recognise that this is important.

 

These are important changes to your medical profile.  In particular, the ability to upload documents into your medical profile is a radical change in thinking and solves a problem that every NHS Trust in the UK is grappling with.  We will be continuing our work with East Kent NHS Trust as there are some other important news to report on that front in the coming months.

If you have had any problems following the upgrade please email support@tap2tag.me

Last year we reported the case of Mazie, a 5 year old little girl who ate some poison berries, despite having a rare medical condition called Reflux Anonix Seizures   Mazie's story can be seen by clicking here.

We caught up with Mazie's mum, Stacey, to see how she was getting on with tap2tag.  Her story was amazing and heart warming.  After filming Stacey we realised just how important this little device is having such a real and positive affect on people's lives.

Stacey said "It's just the peace of mind.  When I'm not with her, her tap2tag is.  It's doing the talking that I would potentially do in a crisis, it's doing it for me."

Stacey is just one of the 1,000 plus customers who are benefiting from the security that tap2tag is adding to their lives, especially when they are looking after the medical needs of others.

You can see Stacey's video by clicking below.

Stacey was not paid for this video.  We are proud to be associated with a product where individuals are willing to give their own time to promote it with the aim that it may benefit the lives of others.  Our customers are our largest sales force who routinely visit hospitals, medical centres and doctors' surgeries to promote tap2tag.  They do this willingly and with no demand for payment or recompense.

Tap2Tag is changing the lives of those at risk.

If you want to know more please email support@tap2tag.me.

 

What is a Care Plan/Patient Passport?

Everyone with a long-term condition can have a care plan if they want one.

A care plan is an agreement between you and your health professional (or social services) to help you manage your health day to day. It can be a written document or something recorded in your patient notes.

Everyone who has a long-term condition can take part in making their care plan. It helps to assess what care you need and how it will be provided.

Also, try to talk about anything that might be worrying you. For example, some people want to talk about how lonely or anxious they feel, including their fear of hospitals!

By talking about your care plan with your GP, nurse or social worker, you can say how you want to manage your health and choose what's best for you. The care plan will be based on what you want so you're in control.

Patient Passports are a similar type of document produced by a number of NHS Trusts throughout the UK.  They have been primarily designed by Learning Disability departments within the Trust to help those who are not necessarily able to communicate their medical condition and treatment to medical personnel.  However the content of both documents can be very similar.

Why are these documents important?

Care planning is an essential part of healthcare, but is often misunderstood or regarded as a waste of time. Without such a document , important issues are likely to be neglected. Care planning provides a "road map" of sorts, to guide all who are involved with a patient's care. For those with long-term medical conditions then this document can highlight many issues that would not ordinarily find their way on to a patient's records held by their GP.

So for someone who uses oxygen and is in a wheel chair, the care plan may contain details about how oxygen tanks can be changed or the type of cylinder needed.  Not necessarily vital for emergency care but useful information nevertheless when contacting health services and asking for the right replacement equipment.

Other information that might be recorded are matters referring to the patient's likes and dislikes.  In one case a patient had a terrible fear of being admitted to hospital and her care plan stipulated that only in the most extreme of circumstances was a admission was to be allowed.

A healthcare professional needs to be able to match the available care provision against the clinical needs of the patient and this document acts as a bridge between the two.

The system of care plans is not working

Care plans, when prepared with time and care, can be a vital document.  There is one small problem though.  A nurse or doctor will sit down with the patient and prepare the care plan.  In some cases this can be just a paragraph and in others extend to a 25 page mini novel.  Once prepared the healthcare professional will often give a hard copy of the document to the patient and the electronic version will stay on their computer.  And this is where the problems start.

Care plans are just not portable.

A patient with a complex medical condition and with a carefully prepared care plan is going to become unstuck if they are admitted to a hospital or other facility that does not have access to that plan.  Even knowledge of the patient's NHS number will not always help.  All the patient can do is carry with them the printed care plan just in case a medical professional needs to see it in an emergency.

Where does tap2tag come in?

We have been working with East Kent University Hospital NHS Trust and Ether Creative to develop an effective method whereby a Patient Passport can be completed with the patient and specialist nurse.  Initially designed for their Learning Disability department the trial with around 20 patients and carers is due to start soon.

We have upgraded the medical profile on our own website to allow all users to upload up to four documents into their medical records.  This can include a patient passport/care plan but might also include a scanned image of a Do Not Resuscitate ("DNR") letter or specialist medical notes from the consultant.  You can even upload your maternity plan!  The choice will be up to the user.

In essence we have enabled care plans to become truly portable allowing patients to carry an electronic copy of their important documentation anywhere in the UK and throughout the world.

Excessive TV watching and low levels of physical activity in young adults have been linked to lower cognitive function 25 years later, according to a research presented today (Monday July 20 2015) at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Washington.

More than 3,200 adults aged 18-30 years old in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study were followed for 25 years. At intervals they were asked to report on physical activity and TV watching behaviour and at the end of the 25 years they were assessed for memory and processing speed using well established test.

Participants who consistently reported low levels of physical activity (under 150 minutes of medium intensity exercise per week) or watching more than 4 hours of TV a day had significantly lower performance on the cognitive tests in middle age. Those who reported both low physical activity and high television viewing were almost two times more likely to have poor cognitive function at the end of the study.

Dr Doug Brown, Director of Research at Alzheimer's Society, said:

'We know that people who take regular physical exercise in mid and late life have lower rates of dementia than those who have a sedentary lifestyle. This study looks earlier, at people in their 20s and 30s, but it only measured cognitive performance once in mid-life so we cannot draw any conclusions about whether a sedentary lifestyle or excessive TV watching in young adults affects the risk of cognitive decline or dementia later on.

'Alzheimer's Society recommends that people keep as physically active as possible as well as eating a healthy diet, keeping alcohol intake within recommended limits and not smoking as ways to reduce the risk of developing dementia.'

Excerpt from http://www.alzheimers.org.uk

On the 8 June, Jim was in the Well Done Solutions mobility shop in Carlisle having a cup of coffee with the owner, Wayne.  Suddenly he turned his head and heard a click and then the world changed.  Jim had suddenly become paralysed from the neck down and was unable to move his arms and legs.  Jim is a wheelchair user and now he was in a position where he could not move anything, even his electric chair.

Wayne, the owner of Well Done Solutions, is a qualified first aider and immediately recognised that Jim needed assistance.  After calling 999 Wayne immediately tapped Jim's tap2tag wristband and waited for the paramedics to arrive.  The response from the Cumbrian team was amazing and were at the high street shop in minutes.  But the problem for the paramedic team was how to treat Jim who, with a potential neck injury, needed to be transferred to the ambulance.  In cases like these paramedics will sometimes administer morphine as a way of controlling pain.  Wayne had showed Jim's medical information on his own phone to one of the paramedics and he was quickly transferring the information to his admission forms.  The other paramedic was just about to administer morphine to Jim when he was stopped by the other attending member of the crew.  Jim is allergic to morphine and the resulting reaction could have been a catastrophe.

Jim's neck had seized in an unusual position.  As a result the paramedics could not apply a standard neck brace.  So they used rolled up copies of the local newspaper to slowly build up a bespoke neck collar to allow Jim's head to remain stable.

The paramedics were amazed at how quickly Jim's information was made available to them and the amount of information on his condition that could be stored on the device.  They had heard of tap2tag and this was the first time they had seen it used in a real life situation.  They were so impressed that they inadvertently took Wayne's mobile phone out of the shop as it contained the information they needed.  Wayne was able to tell them how they could access Jim's information again, simply by tapping his wristband.

Jim has made a full recovery from the incident.  The seizure was as a result of a neck spasm that temporarily paralysed him.  But he was very grateful to the team at Well Done Solutions for acting so promptly and for his tap2tag wristband.