SIMEDIS 2.0 : ON THE ROAD TOWARD A COMPREHENSIVE MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT MEDICAL MANAGEMENT SIMULATOR

Abstract

Mass casualty incidents still cause a huge amount of deaths and injuries in the 21 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">st</sup> century. Research on these events is challenging due to inherent ethical and logistical difficulties. Computer simulation models can overcome these difficulties, and offer evidence on which to base policy and decisions. In this paper a discrete event simulation model is described, designed to analyze prehospital policies and commonly made decisions. We studied an airplane crash scenario and analyzed mortality as a primary and treatment and transport times as secondary outcome measures. We implemented resource dispatching, search and rescue at the disaster site, triage, treatment and evacuation of victims to healthcare facilities. Overall we conclude that for this particular scenario - where treatment capacity is sufficient - the best outcome for victims can be achieved by the combination of triage, pre-triage and quick distribution of victims to regional hospitals.