• Users Online: 1409
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page
Home About us Editorial board Search Ahead of print Current issue Archives Submit article Instructions Subscribe Contacts Login 


 
 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2015  |  Volume : 3  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 200-205

Assessment of victims tracking in earthquake by using radio frequency identification: Rescuers' viewpoint


1 Department of Health and Medical Sciences Research, Research Institute of Shakhes Pajouh, Isfahan, Iran
2 Department of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Medical Management and Information Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Date of Web Publication11-Aug-2015

Correspondence Address:
Sima Ajami
Department of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Medical Management and Information Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
Iran
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2347-9019.162555

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 

Introduction: Radio frequency identification (RFID) is already used to track and trace the victims in a disaster situation. Objectives: The aim of this study was first, to identify stakeholders and rescuers viewpoints about usage RFID to track victims in shelters and field hospital area after earthquake, second, to list key internal and external factors to use RFID to track earthquake victims, finally, to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threat (SWOT) matrix in aspect of rescuers' viewpoint. Materials and Methods: This study was an applied and analytical. The study population selected from the "Red Crescent Society of Isfahan province," "Disaster Management Isfahan province," "Maintenance and Operation Department of Isfahan," "Fire and Safety Services Organization of Isfahan municipality," and "Medical Emergencies and Disaster Management Center of Isfahan." After that, researchers held a workshop. In the meanwhile of the workshop, participants weighed key internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats) to use RFID in tracking earthquake victims. Then, participants' opinions about this issue were assessed. Finally, according to the SWOT matrix, strategies to solve the weaknesses, problems, challenges, and threats through opportunities and strengths were proposed by participants. Results: The SWOT analysis showed that the total weighted score for internal and external factors were 3.91 (internal factor evaluation) and 3.31 (external factor evaluation) respectively. Therefore, it was in a quadrant SO strategies cell in the SWOT analysis matrix and aggressive strategies were resulted. Conclusion: Researchers suppose to apply SO strategies and use a firm's internal strength to take advantage of external opportunities. It is suggested, policy maker should plan to use the most developed technologies to save earthquake victims and deliver the easiest service to them.

Keywords: Earthquake, radio frequency identification system, strength, victim, weakness


How to cite this article:
Akbari B, Ajami S. Assessment of victims tracking in earthquake by using radio frequency identification: Rescuers' viewpoint. Int J Health Syst Disaster Manage 2015;3:200-5

How to cite this URL:
Akbari B, Ajami S. Assessment of victims tracking in earthquake by using radio frequency identification: Rescuers' viewpoint. Int J Health Syst Disaster Manage [serial online] 2015 [cited 2024 Mar 28];3:200-5. Available from: https://www.ijhsdm.org/text.asp?2015/3/4/200/162555


  Introduction Top


In recent three decades, portion of Asia from natural disasters which have happened in Iran was more than one-third of the total amount in the world, and also our country, after China, India and Bangladesh, has undergone the most compensation in the world. Iran is 1 of 10 endangered countries in the world. In case of an earthquake, retrieving victim information is vital for locating, relief, and rescuing operations. Information Technology (IT) can enhance crisis preparedness, response, and consequence management of natural and man-made disasters. [1] Radio frequency identification (RFID) is the abbreviation of RFID which means identifying by using radio frequency. This technology, in comparison with other identification technologies such as barcodes, has more benefits and has solved many of their problems. [2] In another word, RFID is a collection of technologies in which radio waves are used for automatic person and thing identification. Different methods are used for persons and things identification. [3],[4],[5] To better manage, analyze, and communicate information during a disaster, systems must reduce the burden of information management. They must facilitate rapid entry and retrieval of notes; rapid ordering and reporting of findings; and easy and timely access to current literature, databases, and knowledge. [6] The receiving antenna picks up a signal in the form of radio waves from an object that is sending out the signals. In identification systems the transponder is an RFID tag that communicates with the antenna and the equipment that decodes the information. RFID tags can be attached to products to prevent shoplifting. These tags have to be deactivated by store personnel so you can leave the store without setting off the alarm. [5] The tsunami catastrophe of December 2004 left more than 200,000 dead. Disaster victim identification (DVI) teams were presented with the unprecedented challenge of identifying thousands of mostly markedly putrefied and partially skeletied bodies. To this end, an adequate body tagging method is essential. The placement of RFID microchips inside victim bodies provided a practical solution to problems of body tagging and attribution in the DVI setting encountered by the Austrian DVI team in Thailand in early 2005. [7] Pate denoted that the reason of failure to adequately track victims of Hurricane Katrina was identified as a major weakness of national and local disaster preparedness plans. In response to this need, efforts are under way to develop new technologies that allow instant access to identity and location information during emergency situations. [8] Using and utilizing of new technologies such as RFID is one of instruments that can be used for following victims by sound and their body temperature under debris and also after saving victims as an identical instrument, and ulcerous care. [9] One of the problems that government and rescuers are facing is to identify and follow victims after saving them under debris after earthquake occurrence. Recording, storing, and retrieving victims' data in information systems can provide useful information to supply:

  • Shelters;
  • Food and water;
  • Sanitary equipments (bath, toilet);
  • Clothes;
  • Rehabilitation and temporary health care services;
  • Human resources (doctor, nurse, rescuer);
  • Drug and pharmaceutical instrument;
  • Publicize victims' relatives and friends;
  • Logistics management;
  • Stocks for victim needs.


To provide above facilities, it is necessary to estimate the number of victims (including deceases, sacrifices, mental injuries, financial losses). This estimate can be done as soon as after the earthquake, when victims bring out under debris. Anyway, determine and estimate number in terms of, age, sex, and type of injury of the victims in order to cure and rehabilitate them are one of crisis management concerns. [10] Considering development of identification technology by RFID in all fields and its benefits especially when data amount and process is so high, using RFID is too critical in crisis management in order to trace and follow victims and care team. [1],[3],[10],[11],[12]

The aim of this study was first, to identify stakeholders and rescuers viewpoints about usage RFID to track victims in shelters and field hospital area after earthquake, second, to list key internal and external factors to use RFID to track earthquake victims, finally, to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threat (SWOT) matrix in aspect of rescuers' viewpoint. In this article, victim means killed, injured, hurt people, and who has lost his/her property.


  Materials and Methods Top


This study was an applied and analytical. In this study, to recognize study population interview was done with rescue experts, rescue officials, disaster management of Isfahan, and Department of Treatment and Emergency of Isfahan. Then, researchers asked them to identify other experts. The study population included planners, policy makers, and rescuers in the "Red Crescent Society of Isfahan province," "Disaster Management Isfahan province," "Maintenance and Operation Department of Isfahan," "Fire and Safety Services Organization of Isfahan Municipality," and "Medical Emergencies and Disaster Management Center of Isfahan." After that, researchers held a workshop. In the meanwhile of the workshop, checklist distributed among participants. They weighed key internal (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats [OTs]) to use RFID in tracking earthquake victims. Therefore, after putting weigh SWOTs by them. Next, their weighted scales were calculated. Then, participants' opinions about this issue were assessed. Finally, according to the SWOT matrix, strategies to solve the weaknesses, problems, challenges, and threats through opportunities and strengths were proposed by participants.


  Results Top


First of all, researchers divided victims into two groups: (A) victims have had RFID tag before earthquake, (B) victims didn't have an RFID tag before the earthquake [Figure 1].
Figure 1: Conceptual map of role the radio frequency identification to rescue victims after earthquake

Click here to view


  1. Victims have had RFID tag before the earthquake;
  2. Victims have not had an RFID tag before the earthquake.


In this research project we want to know stakeholders and rescuers viewpoints about usage RFID to track victims in shelters and field hospital area after earthquake. We focused only the victims have not had an RFID tag before the earthquake. When victims are pulled ruin buildings out, rescuers will attach RFID tag to victims' body. Then they can add victims' information in RFID and track them in shelter and field hospital area.

Then, researchers listed votes of participants with respect to the SWOT factors by using RFID in victims tracking. Then factors were prioritized. Average of weights, ratio, participants' responses, and weighted scores were calculated. To calculate the ratio, every weight divided by the total weight of weaknesses and strengths. To calculate weighted score ratio multiply with participants' responses.

An example of this method is shown in [Table 1]. In the first row of [Table 1]. The number 4 divided the number of 76 (total weight of weaknesses and strengths) is equal 0.05 (ratio) and if this number multiply with the "5" given value of "0.25." To calculate the ratio, every weight divided by the total weight of OTs. To calculate weighted score ratio multiply with participants' responses. An example of this method is shown in [Table 2]. In the first row of [Table 2]. The number 4 divided the number of 51 (total weight of OTs) is equal 0.08 (ratio) and if this number, multiply with the "4" given value of "0.32." [Table 1] and [Table 2] demonstrates the participants' viewpoints in terms of SWOT evaluation. They were obtained after summarizing the viewpoints and then weighted during discussion sessions.
Table 1: SW evaluation matrix by using RFID in victims tracking

Click here to view
Table 2: OT evaluation matrix by using RFID in victims tracking

Click here to view


After calculating, the total weighted score for internal and external factors were 3.91 and 3.31 respectively [Table 3].
Table 3: Total weighted score of internal and external factors evaluation matrix related to using RFID track earthquake victims

Click here to view


Aggressive suggested strategies (OS strategies) used strengths to take advantage of opportunities in experts' viewpoint were as follows:

  1. Motivate and familiarize planners, policy makers, and rescuers in organizations related to relief and rescue field such as "Red Crescent Society of Isfahan province," "Disaster Management Isfahan province," "Maintenance and Operation Department of Isfahan," "Fire and Safety Services Organization of Isfahan Municipality," and "Medical Emergencies and Disaster Management Center of Isfahan" to use RFID to manage victim information after earthquake
  2. Encouraging organizations, planners, policy makers, and rescuers in relief and rescue field in holding educational programs about how to use RFID after the earthquake
  3. Developing the use of controllers that are able to be coded in order to solve problems related to privacy.
  4. Removing weaknesses of RFID implementation with the help of organizations, planners, policy makers, and rescuers in relief and rescue field
  5. Utilizing RFID in fast and accurate recognition of victims in information system at the shortest time in order to improve service delivery to victims
  6. To control of victims entering and existing to earthquake camp
  7. To moment by moment control of victims without taking special attention
  8. Utilizing the use of RFID with voice and heat sensors integrating technique for tracing victims under debris when an earthquake happens.



  Discussion Top


In current research, final score of internal factor assessment matrix related to "earthquake victims information management tracing system" in Isfahan showed that final score of strengths was 3.69 and the final score of weaknesses was 0.22, and final score of the internal factor assessment matrix was 3.91.

A Cardinal Health Company that is a pioneer in health equipment providing to make sure that surgeons haven't left the surgical instrument in the patient's body, using RFID tags in surgical instruments. [7] Although this work was a part of Wall-Mart Company's commitment for its production chain, Pharmaceutics Company used RFID tags to prevent pseudo medicine mall and stealing medicine. [13] Meyer et al. mentioned about their experience in the tsunami in Thailand. They used RFID tags to trace victim bodies by the disaster victim identification team. [14]

Fuhrer and Guinard said that identification technology with the help of radio waves leads to fast developing and health care. Actually, RFID used in mobile phones in electronic health programs helps to improve health programs and patient safety. Results showed that using RFID can be useful to build smart hospitals which improve health programs, decrease errors, and improves patient safety and increase service quality. [15]

In recent decade, health ministers and assistants of Canada, have designed strategies to encounter with pressures have made in the Health Care Department. These pressures include the increasing health care expenses, lack of staff, increasing of chronic disease prevalence, and older population; and it was shown that IT, as an instrument to help these strategies, is being used. [16]

Limitations of RFID system installation and specification

  • Inability of reading some tags in liquid areas and metal props;
  • Blind areas and orientation problems;
  • Tags and reader interaction;
  • Vulnerability of tags in water, static drain, high magnetic waves;
  • A false reading or not reading of tags in some workstations;
  • Lack of internal resource to support;
  • Lack of security.



  Conclusion Top


Wire communications systems, mobile system, and different earth system depend on infrastructures that are vulnerable at the time of a disaster occurrence. Some solutions with low risk rate can be suggested to save human life in these cases. To do this, cities and endangered places in different areas should be equipped with these technologies, by using correct policies. Considering development of RFID technology in all fields and its benefits, especially when the volume of data and its process are high, using RFID in crisis management to follow victims and care team is so critical. SWOT model, that helps planning, in this field can offer the most efficient strategies by extracting strategic factors. So it's better to use invasive strategy. It is suggested, in the technology age, to use the most developed technologies to save earthquake victims and deliver service to them. To do this, education, informing, and encouraging victims to use these technologies is essential. Moreover, it is helpful to mix RFID with a voice and heat sensors, in tracing victims under debris.

Acknowledgements

Hereby, the authors would like to thank Prof. Mohammad H. Yarmohammadian and Mr. SM Hejazi to support us. We thank especially the planners, policy makers, and rescuers in the "Red Crescent Society of Isfahan province," "Disaster Management Isfahan province," "Maintenance and Operation Department of Isfahan," "Fire and Safety Services Organization of Isfahan municipality," and "Medical Emergencies and Disaster Management Center of Isfahan" for participating and their partnership in our research project patiently.

Financial support and sponsorship

This article resulted from research project No. 392280 by the vice chancellor for research of the Faculty of Medical Management and Information Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran and funded by Research Institute of Shakhes Pajouh.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

1.
Ajami S, Fatahi M. The role of earthquake information management systems (EIMSs) in reducing destruction: A comparative study of Japan, Turkey and Iran. Disaster Prev Manage 2009;18:50-161.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Reding V. RFID: Radio Frequency Identification: Frequently Asked Questions. Brussels; 12 May, 2009. Available from: . [Last accessed on 2013 Apr 28].  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Ajami S, Carter MW. The Advantages and disadvantages of radio frequency identification (RFID) in Health-care Centers; approach in Emergency Room (ER). Pak J Med Sci 2013;29:443-8.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Ajami S, Rajabzadeh A. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and patient safety. J Res Med Sci 2013;18:809-13.  Back to cited text no. 4
[PUBMED]  Medknow Journal  
5.
Ajami S, Lamoochi P. Applying Telemedicine during Disasters. J Inf Technol Softw Eng 2013;Suppl 7:e005. Doi: 10.4172/2165-7866.S7-e005 .  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Garshnek V, Burkle FM Jr. Applications of telemedicine and telecommunications to disaster medicine : h0 istorical and future perspectives. J Am Med Inform Assoc 1999;6:26-37.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
McGee M. Health-care IT has a new face. Information Week 2004;988:16-26.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Pate BL. Identifying and tracking disaster victims : s0 tate-of-the-art technology review. Fam Community Health 2008;31:23-34.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
The Gemini Geek. How RFID Works? 2013. Available from: http://www.thegeminigeek.com/how-rfid-works/. [Last accessed on 2013 Feb 10].  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Daito M, Tanidan N. How Can RFID Contribute to Disaster Rescue? RCSS Discussion Paper Series 2007. p. 51. Available from: . [Last accessed on 2014 Apr 28].  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Ajami S, Arab-Chadegani R. What are the most important barriers to implement radio frequency identification device (RFID) in healthcare system? J Inf Technol Softw Eng 2013;Suppl7:e004. Doi:10.4172/2165-7866.S7-e004.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Ajami S. The role of earthquake information management system to reduce destruction in disasters with earthquake approach. In: Tiefenbacher J, editor. Approaches to Disaster Management - Examining the Implications of Hazards, Emergencies and Disasters. Croatia: INTECH; 2013. p. 131-44. Available from: /approaches-to-disaster-management- examining-the-implications-of-hazards-emergencies-and-disasters. [Last accessed on 2014 Sep 14].  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.
Collins J. RFID brings order to the law. RFID Journal 2004; July 7. Available from: www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/977/1/4/ [Last accessed on 2015 Mar 18].  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14.
Meyer HJ, Chansue N, Monticelli F. Implantation of radio frequency identification device (RFID) microchip in disaster victim identification (DVI). Forensic Science International 2006;157:168-71.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.
Fuhrer P, Guinard D. Building a Smart Hospital using RFID technologies. In proceeding at the 1 st European Conference on eHealth (ECEH06), Fribourg, Switzerland, October 12-13, 2006.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.
Canadian Medical Association.Information technology and health care in Canada: A hand book for Canadian physicians. 2007 Status report. 2007. Available from: . [Last accessed on 2014 Sep 14].  Back to cited text no. 16
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1]
 
 
    Tables

  [Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
Access Statistics
Email Alert *
Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)

 
  In this article
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Me...
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Article Figures
Article Tables

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed4132    
    Printed290    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded315    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal


[TAG2]
[TAG3]
[TAG4]