MSP Airport to become 1st in nation to use app detailing travelers’ medical conditions

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is set to become the first in the nation to use a new program that aims to help travelers with medical conditions.

MSP and Metropolitan Airports Commission officials are teaming up with the company behind the Vitals app, which allows first responders to gain medical information voluntarily provided by travelers and their caregivers.

The app alerts first responders of any physical or mental conditions a traveler is experiencing, and a special beacon informs first responders how they can best interact with the traveler.

“The goal is to appropriately respond to travelers’ needs and help them travel safely in an efficient and accessible way,” the creators of the app wrote in a statement.

The app is already being used by several agencies around the metro area, and with Wednesday’s announcement, MSP Airport is set to become the first airport in the U.S. to use it.

“The Vitals App will help ensure that our officers are well-equipped to appropriately respond to health emergencies and keep passengers safe while traveling,” Brian Ryks, the executive director and CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, said. “This technology is one more tool in our ever-expanding accessibility toolkit to ensure that our passengers are able to travel with confidence.”