NCJ Number
211804
Journal
Homeland Defense Journal Volume: 3 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2005 Pages: 40,42,44,45
Date Published
September 2005
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Researchers are designing a wireless system that tracks and monitors the condition of thousands of disaster victims from moment-to-moment over several days.
Abstract
The National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine is funding a 3-year research project called WIISARD (Wireless Internet Information System of Medical Response in Disasters). This project aims to harness sophisticated wireless technology in coordinating and enhancing the care of mass casualties after a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. WIISARD is based on the use of intelligence triage tags for patients that hold the patient's medical information and a device that shows the patient's geographic positioning in real time. This enables a wireless system to determine the patient's medical status and location. The prototype is a wireless device that monitors a victim's pulse and blood-oxygen level through continuously transmitted information to emergency personnel and the command center. WIISARD is also building the first prototypes of midtier command center systems for integrating data on the scene and helping managers work more efficiently. Another wireless system useful in emergency responses is CapWIN--composed of more than 40 Federal, State, and local jurisdictions in Washington, DC--which uses instant messaging and group chat to coordinate emergency responses; logs are used to create incident reports following an emergency. Another wireless technology useful in emergency responses is a computer-based technology and software that creates a 360-degree virtual tour of a facility, which offers a way for security, law enforcement, firefighters, and other first responders to prepare their tactics without losing time becoming familiar with a structure where victims are located.