Disseminating multimedia protocols over Internet for emergency and catastrophe management

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Emergency Medicine
• Information Technology

Background:

• Developing effective catastrophe and emergency management strategies is crucial.
• Existing methods require enhancement for better coordination and information dissemination.
• Information technology offers novel solutions for complex emergency scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present computing tools for storing, representing, and disseminating emergency management guidelines and protocols via the World Wide Web.
• To improve consensus and agreement among remote medical centers in catastrophe management.
• To explore the potential of these tools for training medical and paramedical personnel.

Main Methods:

• Development of tools using Java and C++ for managing emergency protocols.
• Storing guidelines in a standard database (e.g., Microsoft Access).
• Representing protocols in a flowchart format linked to multimedia information and external data sources.
• Disseminating protocols over the Web using a Java-based tool compatible with web browsers.

Main Results:

• Implementation of 15 emergency protocols developed in collaboration with military personnel.
• Remote access to electronic protocols enabling comparison of procedures and methods.
• Establishment of a platform for network discussions to enhance consensus among medical centers.
• Demonstrated potential for training medical and paramedical staff in emergency situations.

Conclusions:

• The developed web-based tools effectively store, represent, and disseminate emergency management protocols.
• These tools facilitate remote collaboration, enhance consensus among medical centers, and support personnel training.
• The integration of multimedia and database technology provides a robust solution for modern emergency management.