Backpack device will save lives

A NEW backpack device enables people in remote places who fall ill to transmit their vital signs to a doctor anywhere in the world to get medical help.

The machine, developed by a British-based company, measures heart rhythm, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, temperature and pulse.

If someone falls ill, they can transmit their vital signs by land line, mobile or satellite phone to a doctor who can use the information to monitor the patient and decide on the best course of treatment.