Retired FF Records Technical Rescue
Posted by Greg Friese at 15 September, 2009, 7:00 amA news story about a cyclist that fell off a bridge during a group training ride is much more compelling because of the video recorded and shared with the television station by a retired firefighter. The television reporter thanks the retired firefighter for providing high quality video.
This video is an excellent example that anyone that is involved in or witnesses an incident can act as a Social Media Public Information Officer (PIO). After watching the video answer several questions about posting and commenting on social media content.
1. Would you embed this video in your department’s blog? Why or why not?
2. Do you feel permission from the cyclist is needed before you could post this video of your department’s patient on your official blog (he is clearly visible entering the ambulance)?
3. Do you have a social media policy in place that gives guidance to the personnel on this incident about posting and commenting on this video on their personal Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter accounts or even their own blogs?
Related posts:
- Social Media Makes Everyone a PIO
- Facebook Video Leads to Criminal Conviction
- Making your Social Media Stand-Out
- Social Media Use by Emergency Response Organizations During #atlflood
- 5 Video Production Tips for Social Media PIOs
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3 Responses to “Retired FF Records Technical Rescue”
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1. Yes, if the existence of the video doesn't violate the law and the patient gives written permission to either the department or the news agency.
2. Embed the news agency's feed assuming they meet strict media release standards such as signed forms.
3. If I start an organization that serves the public I will have a policy in place covering video, photography, writing, and verbal discussions. The policy would balance the needs and wants of the customers, employer, and employees,
My guess is that as long as video isn't taken by someone acting on the behalf of an organization covered under HIPAA there isn't a legal problem. A legal problem I believe rises when people covered under HIPAA start talking about an identifiable patient. Now there could be even stricter state privacy laws.
I think its important to understand the actual law when it comes to requiring consent when it comes to photos and videos. Anything that is "in the public view" is considered photographable/videographable without the need for consent. However, there are issues with such items being created by members of a service for public consumption.
For example an EMT or Paramedic should not be creating photographs or video of the rescue above because a) it conflicts with patient confidentiality and b) that is not what they are primarily there for or the job they have been empowered to perform. There is the ability, on a state by state basis, for an Agency to assign personnel to perform the task of photographing and videotaping events in public view such as this even if they are a HIPAA Compliant Agency.
I personally would not post this news report on my Agency's site for the simple fact that when the father was thanking the responders they appeared… standoffish. I'm sure in their minds they appeared "cool" and "hardcore", but that's not necessarily the image I would want my Agency to portray to the public who would be looking for "warm" and "caring".