Yunus Karaca1, Mustafa Cicek1, Ozgur Tatli1, Aynur Sahin1, Sinan Pasli1, Muhammed Fatih Beser1, Suleyman Turedi2. 1. Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey. 2. Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey. Electronic address: suleymanturedi@hotmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study explores the potential use of drones in searching for and locating victims and of motorized transportation of search and rescue providers in a mountain environment using a simulation model. METHODS: This prospective randomized simulation study was performed in order to compare two different search and rescue techniques in searching for an unconscious victim on snow-covered ground. In the control arm, the Classical Line Search Technique (CLT) was used, in which the search is performed on foot and the victim is reached on foot. In the intervention arm, the Drone-snowmobile Technique (DST) was used, the search being performed by drone and the victim reached by snowmobile. The primary outcome of the study was the comparison of the two search and rescue techniques in terms of first human contact time. RESULTS: Twenty search and rescue operations were conducted in this study. Median time to arrival at the mannequin was 57.3min for CLT, compared to 8.9min for DST. The median value of the total searched area was 88,322.0m2 for CLT and 228,613.0m2 for DST. The median area searched per minute was 1489.6m2 for CLT and 32,979.9m2 for DST (p<0.01 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a wider area can be searched faster by drone using DST compared to the classical technique, and the victim can be located faster and reached earlier with rescuers transported by snowmobile.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: This study explores the potential use of drones in searching for and locating victims and of motorized transportation of search and rescue providers in a mountain environment using a simulation model. METHODS: This prospective randomized simulation study was performed in order to compare two different search and rescue techniques in searching for an unconscious victim on snow-covered ground. In the control arm, the Classical Line Search Technique (CLT) was used, in which the search is performed on foot and the victim is reached on foot. In the intervention arm, the Drone-snowmobile Technique (DST) was used, the search being performed by drone and the victim reached by snowmobile. The primary outcome of the study was the comparison of the two search and rescue techniques in terms of first human contact time. RESULTS: Twenty search and rescue operations were conducted in this study. Median time to arrival at the mannequin was 57.3min for CLT, compared to 8.9min for DST. The median value of the total searched area was 88,322.0m2 for CLT and 228,613.0m2 for DST. The median area searched per minute was 1489.6m2 for CLT and 32,979.9m2 for DST (p<0.01 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a wider area can be searched faster by drone using DST compared to the classical technique, and the victim can be located faster and reached earlier with rescuers transported by snowmobile.
Authors: Sebastián Sanz-Martos; María Dolores López-Franco; Cristina Álvarez-García; Nani Granero-Moya; José María López-Hens; Sixto Cámara-Anguita; Pedro Luis Pancorbo-Hidalgo; Inés María Comino-Sanz Journal: Prehosp Disaster Med Date: 2022-06-09 Impact factor: 2.866
Authors: Cristina Álvarez-García; Sixto Cámara-Anguita; José María López-Hens; Nani Granero-Moya; María Dolores López-Franco; Inés María-Comino-Sanz; Sebastián Sanz-Martos; Pedro Luis Pancorbo-Hidalgo Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-05-11 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Astrid M Knoblauch; Sara de la Rosa; Judith Sherman; Carla Blauvelt; Charles Matemba; Luciana Maxim; Olivier D Defawe; Abdoulaye Gueye; Joanie Robertson; Jesse McKinney; Joe Brew; Enrique Paz; Peter M Small; Marcel Tanner; Niaina Rakotosamimanana; Simon Grandjean Lapierre Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2019-07-30