RETTmobil 2018

•••9••• Innovationen Order instead of chaos “RescueWave” enhances efficiency of operations The idea comes from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Instead of cards, the emergency physician distributes elec- tronic sensor devices, by means of which casualties can be localized automatically and patient information can be acquired and transmitted to the headquarter in re- al time. With the help of data from radio- networked devices and a software specially developed for emergency operations, the headquarter, even under most chaotic con- ditions, can coordinate vehicles and rescue forces on site and send them to the casual- ties as required. Through networking, also hospitals, control centers, and crisis teams can be connected. The information gathered is available to the task forces and emergency manage- ment staff anytime. Cards, tally sheets, clip boards, and notebooks are no longer re- quired. Misunderstandings are prevented. Decisions can be made more quickly and on the basis of reliable data. “Intuitive operation must be guaranteed” It took more than ten years for the idea to be implemented. This was mainly due to the complexity of the problem, says Dr. Stephan Heuer, who coordinated system implementation and worked as a scientist at the FZI Research Center for Information Technology. “Technical systems for rescue services always are highly complex. In a situation of maximum stress, rescue forces must fully concentrate on their emergency care task proper,” he explains. “An assis- tance systemmust not ask the user to make unnecessary decisions. It must be clear and robust and intuitive operation must be guaranteed. The RescueWave devices, for instance, are designed for temperatures be- tween -20 and +50 °C and are splash-proof.” The system has already passed a first practi- cal test by emergency response units in the district of Germersheim, Rhineland-Palati- nate. Professor Wilhelm Stork of KIT’s Insti- tute for Information Processing Technology (ITIV) and Director of the FZI is confident that the system will prevail on the market. “At the RETTmobil 2017 trade show, this concept turned out to be an absolute hit. Several German cities and districts have al- ready expressed their interest.” The men behind RescueWave (from left to right): Dr. Ashok Kumar Chand- rasekaran, Professor Wilhelm Stork, and Dr. Stefan Heuer Photo: FZI Research Center for Information Technology The RescueWave electronic sensor system is to replace slingcards for casualties (fore- ground). Photo: FZI Research Center for Information Technology Continued from page 1 SWT 3.1 Top system SWT 3.1