WhatsApp has swiftly taken over the traditional message inbox but it's more than just that. It can be used to save lives and fine defaulters. Public service providers, health practitioners and even police authorities use WhatsApp to ensure speedy execution of public good. We take a look at WhatsApp Groups that turned out to be life saving.
Could you imagine the same platform being used to apprehend defaulters and save lives as well as sharing memes about how adulting is too hard? Yes, it's happening and for a lot of public good. From blood donation calls to weather crisis alerts, messages and pictures of important tweets often do rounds on WhatsApp groups to reach maximum people. Albeit one has to agree that wrong information can be passed on just as easily. However, here, we will be discussing certain groups that were made and run with the intention of public good and not just dissemination of information.
Against Electrocution
In 2016, when the Harbour line in Mumbai was converted from direct current to alternate current operations, the cases of overhead travelling had to be curbed because the cases of electrocution had peaked. To tackle the issue, the Railway Protection Force started a WhatsApp group of the personnel deployed at certain vulnerable stations. Since chasing defaulters could have proved to be fatal, the personnel used to share pictures of defaulters on the common group for the officials at the next station to catch them. This provided them with both proof and safe proceedings.
Heart emergencies
From connecting heart doctors at remote clinics and big facilities to internal communication between hospital staff, WhatsApp groups are helping doctors save lives. In emergency cases, ECG reports are shared with other doctors to take a second opinion and sometimes to even prepare the hospital staff for the incoming emergency. This practice has reportedly shown a positive hike in the number of lives saved by the doctors on the WhatsApp group. In some cases, doctors based out of India are also present in the group to share their opinion on cases.
Women safety
To help women passengers express their woes and get help in real time, Sakhi WhatsApp groups were made by police personnel. Women commuters were encouraged to be a part of such groups and share pictures and videos if the case of adverse eventualities. However, there were issues of people misusing the groups to send unnecessary messages, something that led to reportedly people exiting the group. Some commuters had concerns about their privacy on being on a WhatsApp group run by police officials.
Farming discussions
Baliraja, a WhatsApp group is a hub for farmers in Maharashtra where they discuss issues and take advice on farming related queries. Multiple groups were made as more and more people joined in. In places where the smartphone is a luxury, members of the group help others with their doubts, expanding the reach of technology. One of the most important aspects of the exercise is to help farmers feel that they are not alone in difficult times and help is just a message away, in a bid to reduce suicide rates in the state.
Blood donation
After going through a tough time to get blood for his wife, a man started off on a journey to help others, with his friend. Creating WhatsApp groups according to blood groups, they managed to find a way to quickly get blood donors, without the hassle of calling up registered ones with donation registries. Realising that the number of donors of negative blood groups is less when compared to positive ones, they also started keeping a database of people who weren't available on WhatsApp.
Know of any WhatsApp group that we missed? Tell us in the comments or write to us at team@socialsamosa.com.
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