We interviewed a 66 year old male, USA (born in Iran), Speaks English, Persian, and Urdu.
Tell us about your language barrier experience:
It was my first time traveling in China. One day I was out in public and just simply needed to use the restroom. Continue reading
1st Minute App was recently featured on EMS World online, a leading source for cutting-edge content delivered to EMS decision-makers. Read the article.
The publication will also feature 1st Minute App in its September issue, which will be distributed at the EMS World EXPO. Continue reading
We recently spoke with another First Responder about on-the-job situations. Here’s what they had to say: Continue reading
This is the first in a series of stories about emergency medical experiences and language translation. First responders, travelers, and immigrants are sharing the scary, humorous, or dramatic events where the language barrier got in the way of the right treatment at the right time.
Do you have a story to share? Please share it with us at: hello@1stMinuteApp.com. You may remain anonymous.
We interviewed a female, age 27 from USA. Here is her story: Continue reading
In Cambodia, translating medical trauma is becoming increasingly difficult. For translating medical terms and abstract concepts to English, “the problem [is] that there were no agreed and consistent translations.” This is an intriguing dilemma because there is a psychological side to the problem. The words for depression and anxiety are often vague Cambodian phrases such as the phrase “thelea-tdeuk-ceut (the water in my heart has fallen)” to describe depression, according to an article devoted specifically to this issue. Continue reading
Recently, we began speaking with First Responders about situations they’ve experienced dealing with non-English speakers. This Fire/EMS leader works for a mid-sized department (250 personnel) that serves population of 250,000. Continue reading
A language barrier in an emergency medical situation can have dreadful results.
According to a New England Journal of Medicine report from 2006, “Some 49.6 million Americans (18.7 percent of U.S. residents) speak a language other than English at home; 22.3 million (8.4 percent) have limited English proficiency, speaking English less than “very well,” according to self-ratings.” Continue reading
Reddit provides a forum for organizing a variety of topics, which in turn, makes it easier for the general public to stumble upon these things. Don’t believe me? I invite you to type the topic of your choice into the subreddit search bar and see if anything pops up. Chances are they’ve got multiple forums where people are discussing the exact topic (or at least something really close to) what you were looking for. Continue reading
In the United States, the language barrier in the EMS field is problematic. A report from the Center for Immigration Studies has determined that one out of every five U.S. residents doesn’t speak English in their home. Continue reading
In Dallas, Texas, 37 percent of the population is estimated to speak Spanish. Language barriers in emergency situations are increasingly common and a recurring problem for first responders – fire fighters, police, and paramedics. The 1st Minute App is a great asset for public safety personnel when they find themselves unable to communicate with a proficient, non-English speaker. Continue reading
