Remote Scene Size-up Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in a Simulated Mass Casualty Incident

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Disaster Response
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology

Background:

• Effective scene-size-up is critical for mass casualty incident (MCI) response.
• Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer potential for real-time visual feedback in chaotic or inaccessible scenarios.
• This study evaluated the feasibility of using UAV video for paramedic scene assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of paramedics using UAV video footage from a simulated MCI.
• To determine if UAV video aids in identifying scene hazards.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of UAV video in initiating patient triage and designating operational locations.

Main Methods:

• A simulated MCI with 15 patients and 4 hazards was established on a college campus.
• A UAV captured real-time video footage of the entire scene.
• Paramedic participants (n=96) viewed the UAV footage and performed patient triage (SALT Triage), hazard identification, and operational area designation.

Main Results:

• Most participants (82%) correctly sorted at least 12 of 15 patients.
• Over half (54%) correctly localized 12 or more patients within a defined grid.
• A majority identified hazards and acceptable locations for critical operational areas, though designation of all 5 areas was achieved by 56%.

Conclusions:

• UAV technology can remotely facilitate scene size-up during MCIs.
• The findings demonstrate the potential of UAVs to enhance situational awareness for first responders.
• Further research is needed to optimize UAV deployment strategies in MCI response.