Mobile DIORAMA-II: infrastructure less information collection system for mass casualty incidents

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Information Technology
• Disaster Management

Background:

• Mass casualty incidents (MCIs) present significant logistical challenges for responders.
• Traditional paper-based triage systems can be inefficient and prone to errors.
• Effective real-time information collection is crucial for successful MCI response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the DIORAMA-II system for real-time information collection in MCIs.
• To assess the system's impact on evacuation time and responder experience.
• To compare DIORAMA-II with traditional paper-based triage methods.

Main Methods:

• Development of the DIORAMA-II system, a mobile platform utilizing active RFID tags/readers and smartphones.
• Deployment of DIORAMA-II in two simulated MCIs involving 50 victims each and professional responders.
• Data collection on evacuation times and responder feedback through surveys and qualitative assessments.

Main Results:

• DIORAMA-II demonstrated a significant reduction in evacuation time, up to 43%, compared to paper-based systems.
• Responders reported high satisfaction, feeling in control and experiencing reduced stress levels.
• All participants indicated a willingness to use DIORAMA-II in actual MCI scenarios.

Conclusions:

• The DIORAMA-II system offers a technologically advanced solution for real-time information management in MCIs.
• The system improves operational efficiency and enhances responder well-being during critical events.
• DIORAMA-II shows strong potential for adoption in real-world mass casualty incident response.