Designing a resource management system for paramedics in larger emergency operations

Abstract

In this thesis it has been discovered that the verbally based communication amongst paramedics is unsatisfactory. The ‘one-to-all’ radio communication system which is utilized today does not have the capacity needed to handle major incidents. It is furthermore fragile when it comes to both environmental noise and signal disturbances, due to the presence of for example helicopters and buildings. Thus a need for an improved communication system was identified. It was found that management of personnel and patients uses a major part of the capacity of the radio. In this thesis a suggested system will be presented as a mean to enhance the quality of communication. By designing a system which visualizes information of personnel and patients – with status, position and ID – in a real-time map on a screen, much of the information which today is provided verbally will with this system be available visually. The evaluation of the system is conducted with an Operational Commander which is defined as an end-user. The findings suggest that geospatial visualization of personnel and patients with status, position and ID, will reduce the amount of verbal communication and will furthermore improve information accuracy and enhance efficiency in management of major incidents.