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

2. 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 Sept 2009

3. Target Groups Public Radio TV Other
Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia Sept 2009

4. Health care and related agencies Onsite Offsite
Specific group
Health care and related agencies
Onsite
Offsite
Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia Sept 2009

5. 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 Sept 2009

6. 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 Sept 2009

7. 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 Sept 2009

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

9. 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 Sept 2009

10. 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 Sept 2009

11. 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 Sept 2009

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

13. 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 Sept 2009

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

15. 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 Sept 2009

16. Other Mass e-mail Voicemail Web sites
Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia Sept 2009

17. Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

18. 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 Sept 2009

19. 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 Sept 2009

20. Breakdown of communication during disaster
Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia Sept 2009

21. Also known as Mother of all disasters!
Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia Sept 2009

22. Last Mile Solution When communication’s system is directly hit
Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia Sept 2009

23. 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 Sept 2009

24. 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 Sept 2009

25. 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 Sept 2009

26. Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

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

28. In disaster! utilize any available system of communication
Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia Sept 2009

29. Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia 14-17 Sept 2009

30. 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

31. Thank you
Fifth Med EM Cong Valencia Sept 2009