An idea by Ivy Tech Community College faculty and students could help first responders deliver aid faster to people dealing with an opioid overdose.
The Ivy Tech team recently took part in the AT&T FirstNet Hackathon in Indianapolis where participants were challenged to develope a mobile app for assisting first responders in the field. FirstNet is a communication tool dedicated to public safety, including law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel to provide reliable communication services and highly secure data connections.
The Ivy Tech team won first place for Best Opioid Crisis App and received a $5,000 prize. The team also won second place in the Best Student App category, which earned a $2,000 prize.
Businesses, including pharmacies, or people, could register they have Narcan, Ivy Tech said in a statement. If an overdose would occur, anyone present could use the app to signal the immediate need for the drug and have it sent within a certain mile radius, which would be potentially faster than an ambulance and without the need to call 911.
Ivy Tech had more than 20 students participate, representing multiple communities across Indiana.
The Ivy Tech student team that took first and second place included:
- Ashton Ball, Batesville
- John Gaulin, Batesville
- Sara Gatewood, Bloomington
- James Anunda, Fort Wayne
- Kendall Arnold, Fort Wayne
- John Bradin, Fort Wayne
- Shannen Regan, Fort Wayne
- Oluwatoyin Awosanya, Indianapolis
- Eric Deering, Indianapolis
- Victoria Harris, Lawrenceburg
- Carrie Lutton, Muncie
- Thomas Starkey, Muncie
- Kirk Hoey, Richmond
- Alvaro Soto Garcia, South Bend/Elkhart
- Paul Troxell, South Bend/Elkhart
Ivy Tech faculty and staff who supported the student team included:
- Zach Hamby, software development faculty, Indianapolis
- Alan Lewis, department chair for School of Information Technology, Indianapolis
- Jessica Jagger, Information Technology career coach, Indianapolis
- Kris Roberts, associate professor/department chair for Computer Science, Fort Wayne
- Lucy La Hurreau, assistant professor for Cyber Security-Information Assurance, Fort Wayne
