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Increased Situation Awareness in Major Incidents – Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technique: A Promising Tool

Jorma Jokela, Monica Rådestad, Dan Gryth, Helené Nilsson, Anders Ruter, Leif Svensson, Ville Harkke, Markku Luoto, Maaret Castrén, Increased Situation Awareness in Major Incidents – Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technique: A Promising Tool. In: Enrique Cabello (Ed.), BIT's 1st Annual World Congress of U-Homes - 2011 Hefei * China November 27, 2011, 39, BITeomics, Inc., 2011.

Abstract:

Management systems in disasters are constantly challenged to improve situational awareness in multi-casualty situations. In this study we evaluated a system that utilizes commercially available low-cost components, including RadioFrequency Identification (RFID) and mobile phone technology. The feasibility and the direct benefits of the system were evaluated in two separate simulated mass-casualty situations; one in Finland involving a passenger ship accident resulting in multiple drowning/hypothermia patients and another at a major airport in Sweden with a plane crash scenario. Both simulations involved multiple agencies and functioned as a test setting for comparing the disaster management’s situational awareness using the RFID -based system. Registration of triage was done by using both a RFID based system, where the data automatically was sent to the medical command, and a traditional method using paper triage tags. The situation awareness was measured directly by comparing the availability of up-to date information at different points in the care chain with both systems. Information about the numbers and status and classification of the casualties was available over an hour earlier using the RFID system compared to the traditional method. The tested system was quick, stable, easy to use, and proved to work seamlessly even in harsh field conditions. It surpassed the traditional system in all respects. Most importantly it improved the general view of mass casualty situations and enhanced medical emergency readiness in a multi-organizational medical setting.

BibTeX entry:

@INPROCEEDINGS{inpJoR,
  title = {Increased Situation Awareness in Major Incidents – Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technique: A Promising Tool},
  booktitle = {BIT's 1st Annual World Congress of U-Homes - 2011 Hefei * China November 27, 2011},
  author = {Jokela, Jorma and Rådestad, Monica and Gryth, Dan and Nilsson, Helené and Ruter, Anders and Svensson, Leif and Harkke, Ville and Luoto, Markku and Castrén, Maaret},
  editor = {Cabello, Enrique},
  publisher = {BITeomics, Inc.},
  pages = {39},
  year = {2011},
}

Belongs to TUCS Research Unit(s): Institute for Advanced Management Systems Research (IAMSR)

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