The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is working with Vitals, a company pioneering accessibility technology and tools. The partnership will make medical information available to nearby first responders at the airport via the Vitals app. 

MSP is the first airport in the country to partner with Vitals and take part in their mission to make airports safer and more accessible for travelers with visible and invisible medical conditions or disabilities. Vitals was founded in partnership with the Autism Society of Minnesota in 2017, and has since then become a certified autism resource. 

The app allows caregivers and self-advocates with disabilities and medical conditions to upload useful information for first responders — such as behavior triggers, de-escalation techniques and allergies — in the event of an emergency. When within 80 feet of a traveler with the Vitals Bluetooth fob or app, first responders are notified and granted access to the information provided by the user. 

“With the Vitals app, we give our officers critical information to assist them in providing appropriate service and care to community members,” said Craig Wilson, deputy chief of the airport police department. “It helps our officers establish more sense of trust and safety for all individuals at the airport, which is our top priority.” 

When it comes to travelers with disabilities, “you can’t tell just by looking at them that they have a condition, and that ends up resulting in tragic outcomes … it can oftentimes result in death, lawsuits and a lack of trust in our organizations, ” said Janeé Harteau, CEO and president of Vitals and retired Minneapolis police chief. 

The integration of Vitals at MSP will be in full effect in mid-July. A first-tier subscription costs $2.99 per month, and is waiver-billable for those in need of financial assistance. 

(Source: Pioneer Press)