Real-time geotracking and cataloging of mass casualty incident markers in a search and rescue training simulation: Pilot study

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-95
Author(s):  
Kendall Park, BS ◽  
Kourtney Meiss ◽  
Luke Guerdan ◽  
Ev Cheng ◽  
Josiah Burchard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Mass Casualty Incident ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Search And Rescue ◽  
Data Infrastructure ◽  
Training Simulation

Objective: Search and rescue after mass casualty incidents relies on robust data infrastructure. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA’s) Task Force 1 (TF1) trains its volunteers to locate and virtually tag scene incidents using a global positioning satellite (GPS) device programmed with markers for each incident (Iron Sights). The authors performed a pilot study comparing Iron Sights™ to a Wi-Fi-based real-time incident geolocation and virtual tagging dashboard (Panacea™) in creating a dynamic common operating picture.Design: Twenty-nine stations were placed at a predefined scene incident, each featuring a set of varying waypoint markers using standard FEMA/TF1 nomenclature. Two volunteers performed the experiment for both the Iron Sights and Panacea systems, digitally tagging all station waypoints.Setting: TF1 simulation training field. Main outcome measure(s): Metrics compared included GPS location precision, marker accuracy, and delay between scene sweep and common operational picture (COP) generation.Results: Two hundred and sixty-one waypoints were digitally tagged after excluding three stations for missing data. The average GPS location difference for all waypoints between Iron Sights and Panacea was 3.65 m. Marker tagging accuracy between Iron Sights and Panacea was equivalent and not statistically different (78.8 percent vs 66.2 percent, respectively, p = 0.11). Waypoints were tagged in 26.59 minutes and 10.55 minutes on average, respectively. Time from scene sweep to virtual COP generation was 7.97 minutes for Iron Sights after complete scene sweep and 37 seconds for Panacea for each waypoint posting in real-time.Conclusions: Panacea generated the COP in real-time compared to a delay with Iron Sights while maintaining the same location precision and marker accuracy. This pilot trial successfully demonstrated the ability to provide real-time actionable intelligence to incident commanders during mass casualty search and rescue missions. Larger field trials are recommended to refine the system and broaden its capabilities.

1600: REAL-TIME TRACKING OF MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT MARKERS IN A SEARCH-AND-RESCUE TRAINING SIMULATION

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 475-475
Author(s):  
Kendall Park ◽  
Salman Ahmad ◽  
John Gillis ◽  
Prasad Calyam ◽  
Amy Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Mass Casualty Incident ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Search And Rescue ◽  
Real Time Tracking ◽  
Training Simulation

scholarly journals Pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence with real-time adherence feedback and partner HIV self-testing: A pilot trial among postpartum women

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dvora L Joseph Davey ◽  
Kathryn Dovel ◽  
Rufaro Mvududu ◽  
Dorothy Nyemba ◽  
Nyiko Mashele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Postpartum Women ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
The Past ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is safe and effective in postpartum women. HIV self-testing (HIVST) for partners combined with biofeedback counselling through real-time adherence measures may improve daily PrEP use among postpartum women. Methods: Between August 2020 and April 2021 we conducted a pilot study in one primary care clinic in Cape Town, South Africa. We randomized postpartum women who initiated PrEP in pregnancy 1:1 to the intervention group (HIVST + biofeedback counselling following urine tenofovir test) or to standard of care (facility-based HIV tests and routine counselling without biofeedback). The outcomes of interest were PrEP adherence in the past 48-72hours via urine tenofovir tests and partner HIV testing, measured 1-month after randomisation. Secondary outcomes included proportion of partners who tested for HIV and discrepancy between self-reported PrEP adherence and urine tenofovir result. Results: We enrolled 106 women (median age=26 years; median months postpartum=2). Almost half of women reported having sex since giving birth (48%); 76% of those reported condomless sex at last sex. At enrolment most women (72%) reported missing <2 doses in the past 7-days; 36% of women had tenofovir present in her urine (no significant differences by arm). One month after enrolment, 62% (n=33) of women in the intervention arm had tenofovir present in their urine compared to 34% (n=18) in the standard of care arm (RR=1.83; 95% CI=1.19, 2.82). Two-thirds of women in the intervention arm reported that her partner tested for HIV (66%; n=35); compared to 17% (n=9) in the standard of care arm (RR=3.89; 95% CI=2.08, 7.27). The proportion of women with a discrepant adherence result (self-reported good recent adherence with no tenofovir in urine test) was significantly lower in the intervention group (n=8; 17%) compared to the standard of care group (n=24; 46%) (RR=0.33; 95% CI=0.17, 0.67). No social or clinical adverse events were reported in the intervention arm. Conclusions: In this pilot study, HIVST for partners and biofeedback counseling increased levels of recent PrEP adherence, pointing to the importance of these interventions to support PrEP use in this population.

scholarly journals Modeling Uncertain and Dynamic Casualty Health in Optimization-Based Decision Support for Mass Casualty Incident Response

2015 ◽  
pp. 411-423
Author(s):  
Duncan T. Wilson ◽  
Glenn I. Hawe ◽  
Graham Coates ◽  
Roger S. Crouch
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Mass Casualty Incident ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Mass Casualty Incidents ◽  
Support Program ◽  
Dynamic Nature ◽  
Significant Challenge ◽  
Health Model

When designing a decision support program for use in coordinating the response to Mass Casualty Incidents, the modelling of the health of casualties presents a significant challenge. In this paper we propose one such health model, capable of acknowledging both the uncertain and dynamic nature of casualty health. Incorporating this into a larger optimisation model capable of use in real-time and in an online manner, computational experiments examining the effect of errors in health assessment, regular updates of health and delays in communication are reported. Results demonstrate the often significant impact of these factors.

scholarly journals A pilot study examining the speed and accuracy of triage for simulated disaster patients in an emergency department setting: Comparison of a computerized version of Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS) and Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) methods

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 364-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwynn Curran-Sills ◽  
Jeffrey M. Franc
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Prospective Trial ◽  
Mass Casualty Incident ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Emergency Department Triage ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Typing Time

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo compare emergency department triage nurses’ time to triage and accuracy of a simulated mass casualty incident (MCI) population using a computerized version of CTAS or START systems.MethodsThis pilot study was a prospective trial using a convenience sample. A total of 20 ED triage nurses, 10 in each arm of the study, were recruited. The paper-based questionnaire contained nine simulated MCI vignettes. An expert panel arrived at consensuses on the wording of the vignettes and created a standard triage score from which to compare the study participants. Linear regression and chi-squared test were used to examine the time to triage and accuracy of triage, respectively.ResultsThe mean triage time for computerized CTAS (cCTAS) and START were 138 seconds/patient and 33 seconds/patient, respectively. The effect size due to triage method was 108 seconds/patient (95% CI 83-134 seconds/patient). The cumulative triage accuracy for the cCTAS and START tools were 70/90 (77.8%) and 65/90 (72.2%), respectively. The percent difference between cumulative triage was 6% (95% CI −19-8%).ConclusionsTriage nurses completed START triage 105 seconds/patient faster when compared to cCTAS triage and a similar level of accuracy between the two methods was achieved. However, when the typing time is taken into consideration cCTAS took 45 seconds/patient longer. The use of either CTAS or START in the ED during a MCI may be reasonable but choosing one method over another is not justified from this investigation.

scholarly journals A Novel, Reliable and Real-Time Solution for Triage and Unique Identification of Victims of Mass Casualty Incidents

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Fay Misichroni ◽  
Angelos Stamou ◽  
Paul Kuqo ◽  
Nikolaos Tousert ◽  
Anastasios Rigos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Situation Awareness ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Mass Casualty Incident ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Civil Protection ◽  
Multiple Systems ◽  
Crisis Managers

A mass casualty incident may result in tens or hundreds of victims. Triage, being the procedure of classifying victims according to their medical emergency, and the unique identification of victims are equally crucial procedures for effectively managing the crisis with respect to personnel (emergency medical services and non-medical civil protection practitioners) and assets (ambulances, medical equipment, hospital beds, etc.). The solution developed in this work aims at reducing the time needed for triage and identification procedures, and at the same time enhancing the situation awareness of crisis managers. Our system consists of (a) electronic wearable triage tags, aiming at replacing the legacy paper tags, supporting enhanced actuating and connectivity functionalities, visually presenting the status of the medical emergency of the victims and uniquely identifying them, (b) a mobile application, connected in real time with a cloud-based data aggregation node, enabling the emergency personnel to control the wearable device and to record the personal and medical emergency information of the victims, (c) an interoperability layer, supporting different connectivity options and capable of secure and reliable distribution of the collected data to multiple systems, such as Command and Control (C2s) systems of civil protection agencies, and (d) a web application, graphically presenting the victims’ medical emergencies and their personal information in aggregated and in-detail views, intended to be utilized by crisis managers in tactical and strategic levels of command. The efficiency of our system has been demonstrated in multiple civil protection full-scale exercises across Europe.

Triage and resource allocation during crisis medical surge conditions (pandemics and mass casualty situations)

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-55
Author(s):  
Paul Hoehner ◽  
David H. Beyda ◽  
William P. Cheshire ◽  
Robert E. Cranston ◽  
John T. Dunlop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Medical Association ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Position Statement ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Direct Response ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
A Current

The Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) was founded in 1931 and is made up of the Christian Medical Association (CMA) and the Christian Dental Association (CDA). CMDA has a current membership of over 19,000 physicians, dentists, and other allied health professionals. During and in direct response to the pressing urgencies of the COVID-19 universal pandemic of 2020 the President of CMDA commissioned a special task force to provide current and future Christian reflection and guidance on triage and resource allocation policies during pandemics and other forms of crisis surge medical conditions (e.g., mass casualty situations). This is a condensed version of the CMDA special task force position statement. 

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document