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A national system for disseminating information on victims during mass casualty incidents
Author(s) -
Adini Bruria,
Peleg Kobi,
Cohen Robert,
Laor Danny
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
disasters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1467-7717
pISSN - 0361-3666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7717.2009.01142.x
Subject(s) - dissemination , medical emergency , mass casualty incident , preparedness , information dissemination , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , information system , occupational safety and health , suicide prevention , identification (biology) , computer security , medicine , injury prevention , business , internet privacy , engineering , computer science , telecommunications , world wide web , political science , law , botany , pathology , biology
Immediate provision of information to the public is vital during mass casualty incidents (MCIs). Failure to implement rapidly a communication response system may result in the public overwhelming hospitals. This paper shares Israel's experience in developing and maintaining a national system for supplying information on the location and identification of casualties. ADAM interfaces online with hospitals' patient registration systems, and allows for immediate electronic transfer of designated data. The system permits information centres to access information on which hospital has admitted identified and unidentified casualties. The latter are photographed at the entrance to the hospital and the picture is stored in ADAM. The system enables hospitals and municipalities to ensure immediate availability and accessibility of information and thus (in our belief) mitigate the concerns of family and friends. Use of such an interface system is recommended as an integral element of emergency preparedness.