Mobile Emergency Response Research Articles

Multi-Level Site Selection of Mobile Emergency Logistics Considering Safety Stocks

With the increasing frequency of emergencies in recent years, the emergency response capacity of the emergency management system needs to be improved. Based on safety stock strategy, this paper proposes a multilevel siting model on the topic of mobile emergency response. We modeled the emergency response needs during emergencies by incorporating the population distribution of each region. The uncertainty of emergencies is modeled by aggregating the frequency of crises in each region over the past 20 years. The site selection model minimizes contingency logistics costs that include transshipment, deployment, inventory, and safety stock costs. In this paper, the IA (Immune Algorithm) is optimized to solve the constructed emergency site selection model. The experiments on the model were carried out with data from the area of Chongqing, Sichuan Province. The number of logistics centers and distribution storage warehouses was tested. The influence of safety stock strategy on the total cost of emergency logistics was analyzed. The research results found that the cost of safety stock is negatively related to the cost of transshipment. In addition, the total cost of emergency logistics has a lower bound. Adding distribution and storage warehouses does not further reduce the total emergency logistics cost.

Prevalence of sleep disturbances among emergency response team paramedics working in shift systems

INTRODUCTION: Due to the nature and specifics of their work, paramedics carry out work activities in an organized shift system. Working in shifts is related to various health complications, disturbing the natural biological rhythm and adversely affecting the quality of sleep. The purpose of the study was the evaluation the effect of shift work on the quality of sleep of the paramedics who are members of Emergency Response Teams. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research took place between May and September 2019, using diagnostic survey methodology on 238 (223 male, 15 female) paramedics in mobile Emergency Response Teams (ERT) employed in five operational areas of the Masovian voivodeship. The mean age was 39.03 ± 9.27 years for males, and 31.93 ± 7.76 years for females. To examine the differences between the groups, the χ 2 test was employed, with an established statistical significance value of p < 0.05. RESULTS: Insomnia was most often reported by paramedics aged between 45 and 54 (29; 12.18%) and above the age of 55 (23; 9.66%). The participating paramedics are most often in the above-norm bounds of the Athens Insomnia Scale norms (112; 47.05%) or in the group classified as suffering from insomnia (77; 32.35%). CONCLUSIONS: In order to minimize the possible health consequences resulting from the nature of shift work, it is suitable to implement elements of sleep hygiene theory into the health education of paramedics, as well as to continuously monitor their health condition as part of occupational medicine practice.

Design and Development of ER MineTracer: A Mobile Emergency Response Application for Mining Industry

Most of the industries, especially mining companies, are facing nowadays an exciting future with growing demand as well as severe challenges. Several innovations in technology as well as in the organizational process and methods are developed in order to cope with the continuously advancing technologically-driven society and to address pressing issues that industries are facing, including emergency response-related problems. This study aimed to improve information access by developing ER MineTracer mobile emergency response application which combines web and mobile applications designed for reporters and rescuers in responding to employees’ emergency requests. It uses GPS to determine an employee’s current position and communicates the user’s name and present location straight to a web application installed in a command center for quick dispatching of emergency units. Descriptive-developmental research was employed in the study utilizing an object-oriented modeling tool in designing the ER MineTracer mobile application. Thirty (30) participants were purposefully chosen to assess the performance of the system and it was revealed that the developed ER MineTracer mobile application was efficient in terms of accessibility, accuracy, and usability. Hence, it is recommended to utilize ER MineTracer and optimize smartphones to assist individuals in saving lives during emergencies and accidents, especially in mining industries.

Design and Development of ER MineTracer: A Mobile Emergency Response Application for Mining Industry

Design and Development of ER MineTracer: A Mobile Emergency Response Application for Mining Industry

Spinal pain syndrome incidence among paramedics in emergency response teams

INTRODUCTION: Spinal pain syndrome is a condition people of different ages suffer from. Its incidence is determined by many factors: age, gender, genetic disposition, lifestyle, the type and characteristics of one’s occupation, years of work experience. Paramedics are particularly vulnerable to musculoskeletal ailments, due to the professional activities carried out at work: lifting, moving, and carrying patients or medical equip­ment, crossing architectural barriers, forced posture during work, standing, walking, and sitting for long periods. The study aimed to indicate the effect of professional work on the incidence of spinal pain syndrome in paramedics working in mobile Emergency Response Teams. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research took place between May and September 2019, using diagnostic survey methodology on 238 (223 male, 15 female) paramedics in mobile Emergency Response Teams (ERT) operating in the Masovian voivodship. The mean age was 39.03 ± 9.27 years for males, 31.93 ± 7.76 years for females. The research tool was a self-developed questionnaire. RESULTS: All participants (100%) suffered from spinal pain syndrome. A majority of the participants (98; 41.18%) reported pain being located in the lumbar area and being related to lifting, moving and carrying patients in teams (149; 62.60%). CONCLUSIONS: Spinal pain syndrome is a widespread phenomenon among ERT paramedics. The incidence and nature of lumbar area pain are strictly related to the type of work paramedics do. Applying rules of work ergonomics and using aid affects incidence and decreases the frequency of SPS.

SELF-EVALUATION OF THE COMPLIANCE WITH HAND HYGIENE REGULATIONS BY PARAMEDICS IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS

Aim: Infection with biological factors is a significant issue which occurs during the undertaking of professional tasks in the daily work of paramedics in Emergency Response Teams. Due to the volatile conditions of the work environment, paramedics as an occupational group are at a higher risk of exposure to biological factors (e.g., hepatotropic viruses (HBV, HCV); human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria; influenza virus; or contempo-rarily the SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses). The possibility of infection grows in situations where work safety and hygiene regulations are not followed. The aim of the following work is the evaluation of the compli¬ance with hygienic standards and the knowledge regarding the prophylaxis of infection among paramedics. Material and methods: The study was carried out between May and September of 2019, with the use of diagnostic survey methodology on 238 (223 male, 15 female) paramedics in mobile Emergency Response Teams from the Maso¬vian voivodship. The mean age was 39.03±9.27 years for males, and 31.93±7.76 years for females. Results: 59.66% of the participants (n = 142) report always following the recommended hygiene procedures. 50.85% (n = 121) of the participants indicated hands playing a significant role in the spread of infection. Co-workers followed hygiene procedures at a satisfactory level for 53.78% (n =128) of the participants. Conclusions: There is a wide range of factors which limit respecting hygiene procedures, the most important of which being sudden and unforeseeable situations. Issues of the broadly understood hand hygiene practice should be a con¬stant element of prophylaxis in ERTs.

AGGRESSION TOWARDS PARAMEDICS IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS

Aim: Aggressive behaviours at work are one of the many problems encountered by Emergency Response Team paramedics. Aggression towards them may inhibit proper conduct, intensify anxiety and disease symptoms. Problems stemming from occupational exposure to aggression are not well-recognised phenomena. The aim of the research was the evaluation of occupational exposure to aggression from patients among paramedics employed in Emergency Response Teams in the Mazovian voivodship. Material and methods: The study took place between May and September 2019 using diagnostic survey methodology among 238 (223 male and 15 female) paramedics in mobile emergency response teams in the Masovian voivodship. The mean age was 39,03±9,27 years for males, and 31,93±7,76 years for females. The research tool was a questionnaire, developed for the purpose of the present study. The significance level was α = 0.05. The statistical analysis was carried out with the STATISTICA ver 13.1 PL software. Results: 55.46% of the participants said that a patient’s aggressive conduct is a problem in everyday work. Participants come in frequent contact with verbal (62.61%) and physical (49.17%) aggression from patients. Conclusions: Aggressive behaviours towards paramedics employed in Emergency Response Teams is a significant problem not only in professional work, but also for public health. In order to minimise the incidence of aggression toward paramedics, cooperation between every party responsible for the proper functioning of the Emergency Medical Service System is necessary.

Organization of medical care in FMBA institutions of the siberian federal district during the pandemic of new coronavirus infection (COVID-19): challenges and solutions

Introduction. The experience of organization of medical activity in the medical institutions subordinate to the FMBA of Russia in the Siberian Federal District during the I-III epidemic waves of COVID-19, the procedure for making and implementing organization and managerial decisions on building the health care system; the analysis of the experience gained in the formation and operation of consolidated mobile emergency response teams was made.Materials and methods. The study was performed on the basis of the statistical data, regulations on the organization of medical care for patients diagnosed with COVID-19, including medical care provision in the extreme conditions.Results and Discussion. The rational distribution of infectious diseases hospitals, human resources and equipment made it possible to create bed capacity reserve, as a result of which, even during the peak episodes of the pandemic process, the average occupancy of beds in the serviced area was no more than 92-93% and there was always the possibility to receive new patients in hospitals; the capacity of the laboratory was gradually increased 25 times: from 200 tests per day in the pre-pandemic period to 5,000 tests per day. Thanks to the introduction of the new management solutions, digitalization of medical processes has been ensured: accounting of results in the medical information system, transmission of results directly to medical institutions within 12-14 hours, which is 4 times faster than the standard time. The legal regulations of interaction with the rescue centres of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, the Ministry of Defense and other power structures, the improvement of the material and technical equipment of basic mobile hospitals and emergency medical teams were proposed for discussion.Conclusion. A scheme has been worked out for the involvement of the MOF of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia in the timely organizational measures for mobilization of forces and means in order to ensure the re-profiling of medical activities to work on providing medical care in the COVID-19 pandemic conditions.

Novel MA-VFBC Based Deployment of Obstacle-Avoiding Scattered Sensors for Region-of-Interest Incidence Monitoring

The deployment of mobile and adaptive virtual force barrier coverage (MA-VFBC) classification scheme using a mobile emergency response and command interface (MERCI) platform that is functionally implemented to track and report incidences and consequent collateral damages to infrastructures within a region of interest (ROI) is proposed. Considering the enormous use of the global positioning system (GPS) devices for location data-gathering and processing, and its inherent limitations, the proposed GUI-based MA-VFBC platform is implemented using self-deploying and obstacle-avoiding scattered mobile sensor nodes. The GPS service is kept as alternatives, since only initial co-ordinates from where the deployed sensor starts to move and the maximum boundary location of the target location is considered. The practical experimentation work appraises the use and feel of the (MERCI) platform when integrated with the proposed novel MA-VFBC path-tracking classification schemes, while the simulation work investigates evident real-time system reliability issues as direction of node deployment with path distances, system computation time and system overheads in the presence of dissimilar multiple obstacles.

Improving Emergency Response Systems in the Oil and Gas Industry To Reduce Environmental Damage

The article identifies the main problems of eliminating the reduction of environmental damage by improving the response systems to man-made accidents at hazardous production facilities of the oil and gas complex. Risk factors for ensuring safety at a hazardous production facility in the oil and gas industry are identified, the most significant risk factor is identified by the method of hierarchical analysis, and the problem of the engineering and technical factor in the system “man technical environment industrial environment environment” is revealed. “The solution to the problem is indicated the use of a developed mobile emergency response system, which makes it possible to halve the response time to an emergency. The developed response system can be applied at any hazardous production facility in the oil and gas industry due to its flexibility.

Emergency Response Community Effectiveness: A simulation modeler for comparing Emergency Medical Services with smartphone-based Samaritan response

Mobile emergency response applications involving location-based alerts and physical response of networked members increasingly appear on smartphones to address a variety of emergencies. EMS (Emergency Medical Services) administrators, policy makers, and other decision makers need to determine when such systems present an effective addition to traditional Emergency Medical Services. We developed a software tool, the Emergency Response Community Effectiveness Modeler (ERCEM) that accepts parameters and compares the potential smartphone-initiated Samaritan/member response to traditional EMS response for a specific medical condition in a given geographic area. This study uses EMS data from the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) and analyses geographies based on Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) and Economic Research Service (ERS) urbanicity codes. To demonstrate ERCEM's capabilities, we input a full year of NEMSIS data documenting EMS response incidents across the USA. We conducted three experiments to explore anaphylaxis, hypoglycemia and opioid overdose events across different population density characteristics, with further permutations to consider a series of potential app adoption levels, Samaritan response behaviors, notification radii, etc. Our model emphasizes how medical condition, prescription adherence levels, community network membership, and population density are key factors in determining the effectiveness of Samaritan-based Emergency Response Communities (ERC). We show how the efficacy of deploying mHealth apps for emergency response by volunteers can be modelled and studied in comparison to EMS. A decision maker can utilize ERCEM to generate a detailed simulation of different emergency response scenarios to assess the efficacy of smartphone-based Samaritan response applications in varying geographic regions for a series of different conditions and treatments.

Streamlining information representation during construction accidents

This study illustrates an approach to streamline information representation from construction workers to construction managers during construction accidents. Since frequent construction accidents affect many countries, promoting occupational safety and health in the construction industry has become important. However, if construction accidents occur at outdoor construction sites, this study identifies two problems: inconvenience in reporting emergency scenarios for construction workers; and difficulty in confirming emergency scenarios for construction managers. As a result, emergency responses are delayed. Therefore, this study proposes a solution (i.e., a Mobile Emergency Response Information System [MERIS]). Integrating several information techniques, MERIS supports ubiquitous information computing and also offers location-based information representation. Moreover, this study evaluated conventional methods (i.e., oral communications, on-site observations, electronic maps) and MERIS in a freeway construction project. Based on the results, MERIS had better efficiency. Through MERIS, while construction workers relayed emergency scenarios more effectively, construction managers understood the details of the scenarios more appropriately. Emergency responses were executed more rapidly. Consequently, this study is useful for construction safety management.

Mobile Emergency Response Application Using Geolocation for Command Centers

Mobile Emergency Response Application Using Geolocation for Command Centers

Proactive Self-Adaptation for Improving the Reliability of Mission-Critical, Embedded, and Mobile Software

Embedded and mobile software systems are marked with a high degree of unpredictability and dynamism in the execution context. At the same time, such systems are often mission-critical, meaning that they need to satisfy strict reliability requirements. Most current software reliability analysis approaches are not suitable for these types of software systems, as they do not take the changes in the execution context of the system into account. We propose an approach geared to such systems which continuously furnishes refined reliability predictions at runtime by incorporating various sources of information, including the execution context of the system. The reliability predictions are leveraged to proactively place the software in the (near-)optimal configuration with respect to changing conditions. Our approach considers two representative architectural reconfiguration decisions that impact the system's reliability: reallocation of components to processes and changing the number of component replicas. We have realized the approach as part of a framework intended for mission-critical settings, called REsilient SItuated SofTware system (RESIST), and evaluated it using a mobile emergency response system.

P.7.a.013 Interest of a mobile emergency response team in adolescents' mental health

Aggressive behavior complicates the presentation of many psychiatric illnesses, and is associated with significant morbidity. Antipsychotic medications are used to treat this symptom dimension across multiple diagnoses. In this meta-analysis we sought to identify the effect size of antipsychotic medications for the treatment of reactive-impulsive aggression in adults, and identify differences across underlying diagnosis and specific agent. A search was conducted of four databases, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Embase and the Cochrane Library to end date of August 10, 2016. The search terms included “aggression”, “irritable mood”, “anger”, “hostility” and “antipsychotic agents” or “dopamine antagonists”. 505 results were found, of which 47 were reviewed in detail and 21 ultimately included in the analysis. Antipsychotics were broadly effective for the treatment of aggression, but with effect sizes similar to those for non-pharmacologic interventions (standard mean difference = 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.22–0.36, z = 8.5, p < 0.001). There was no evidence for differences according to choice of agent (χ2 = 2.7, df = 6, p = 0.85), or conclusive evidence as to the importance of the underlying diagnosis (χ2 = 3.2, df = 3, p = 0.36). A small but significant dose effect was identified (β = 0.0002, 95% CI 0.0001–0.0004, p = 0.038). Although antipsychotics appear to be effective for treatment of aggression, their small effect sizes in the context of their significant side-effects should be taken into account when making clinical decisions about their use.

An architectural proposal for future wireless emergency response networks with broadband services

Local and federal governments have recognized the importance of mobile emergency response networks that can rapidly establish reliable communication links to support multimedia broadband applications. In this paper, we describe a novel proposal for a scalable and flexible architecture to support the needs of such future wireless emergency response networks. We first describe a series of requirements and performance expectations that future wireless network architectures must satisfy. These requirements then motivate our investigations of several key technical areas. In particular, we propose a novel hybrid network architecture that includes a fixed and permanently deployed part as well as a mobile/portable infrastructure that is deployed as the capacity and connectivity needs arise. This very flexible architecture dynamically manages the integration of emergency response applications with municipal and civic services to provide the maximum achievable performance for the latter, while at the same time ensuring the priority and quality of service (QoS) requirements of the former. Finally, we provide algorithms for dynamically managing both types of applications in a joint and integrated network through flexible frequency partitioning as well as through dynamic renegotiation of the QoS performance targets and admission control.