Ali Umar FRCSI EMDM FCEM A comparative study of electronic alerting systems used in major emergency Ali Umar FRCSI EMDM FCEM

Communication for disaster! establish and utilize the best available system of communication and and the alternative if the main system fails. Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Target Groups Public Radio TV Other Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Health care and related agencies Onsite Offsite Specific group Health care and related agencies Onsite Offsite Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Radios VHF UHF Very high frequency 30MHZ to 300 MHZ Used in FM radio broadcast, TV broadcast, land mobile stations Amateur radio ,marine communicatoin, air traffic control communications and air navigation systems UHF Ultra high frequency (UHF) designates, frequencies between 300 MHz and 3 GHz(3,000 MHz). Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Pager Short rage Text Voice Text and Voice Useful as a onsite and short/long distances, alert system in Hospital etc Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

long range pagers Allow individuals the freedom of mobility and still contactable Paging services will take and send a brief message to their clients Client contacts back the sender Sender will not be sure of message delivery Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Land Line phones Direct damage System congestion First to go in disaster Capacity reflects commercial requirements Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Mobile Phones Commonly used Real time service GSM not designed for emergency Not reliable in emergency System congestion Limitation of coverage Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Text Messages Text messaging or short message service (SMS) SMS text messaging is the most widely used data application 2.4 billion active users, or 74% of all mobile phone subscribers Work through the use of under-utilized“ signaling” or control channels A service centre stores the messages and then forwards them in bursts to devices Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Text Messages SMSCs of different providers follow a variety of service algorithms, including First-In, First-Out (FIFO) and Last-In, First Out (LIFO) SMS contain up to 160 characters Encoding, “GSM 7-bit default alphabet” Not a real time service Does not provide any means of authentication System congestion can delay delivery Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Traynor P, Characterizing the limitation of third-party EAS over cellular text messaging Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Devices used for SMS any device that can receive text message (SMS) through cellular service, cellular telephones, some text pagers, blackberrys, wireless PDAs land phones Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Messaging Software Easy to use Mass messages Responses can be recorded Predetermined group Easy analysis for future reference Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

instant messaging software for LAN (server less) Based on peer-to-peer (or P2P) technology, Operates without a dedicated server or Internet connection. All you will need is a wired or wireless connection to your local network Cost effective User friendly Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Other Mass e-mail Voicemail Web sites Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Satellites GEO Geosynchronous Earth Orbit 42,164 km (22,300 miles) Weaker signals , fixed powerful receiving facilities, large antennas required LEO Low Earth Orbit Multiple Non-geostationary Hand held terminals, size of cellular phone In disaster provides immediate, reliable communication Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Satellite Phones May cover entire earth Eliminate reliance on a cellular network or a land line Function on their own dedicated networks Communicate with satellites instead of towers Have reliable data features Consistent service Satellite service does not get overloaded Works well in remote areas Higher quality and longer lasting. Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Breakdown of communication during disaster Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Also known as Mother of all disasters! Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Last Mile Solution When communication’s system is directly hit Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Infra Red When last-mile connectivity is lost When wired or wireless communications fails you can still provide communications between two points at a distances of up to 1000 meters 1 Megabit to Multi Gigabit speeds and they are deployable in a day low-cost, high-speed wireless connectivity for a variety of last-mile applications Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Microwave Uses ultra-high radio frequency Up to 60 miles as long as no obstructions Can transmit data, voice and video Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

VSAT VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) earthbound station used in satellite communications data, voice and video Speed up to domestic DSL service. Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Which System Is Good Depends on Nature of disaster Geographical situation Target group Expected response Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

In disaster! utilize any available system of communication Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

Good communication and just as hard to sleep after”. “is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after”. Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Thank you Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009