ISSN 1744-1986
Technical Report N O 2006/ 25
The use of computing technology in a challenging environment: an investigation in the emergency services in Northern Ireland
Patricia Wilson
30 September, 2006
Department of Computing Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology The Open University
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA United Kingdom
http://computing.open.ac.uk Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 The use of computing technology in a challenging environment: an investigation in the emergency services in Northern Ireland
(M801 Open University) A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Open University’s Master of Science Degree in Computing for Commerce and Industry
Patricia Elizabeth McDowell Wilson (U3374350) 1 March 2007
Word Count: 15,089
Page 1 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Preface
I would like to first thank my supervisor, Dr. David Butts. I would also like to thank my tutor from the Open University course, M873, Dr TJ Lydiard, for encouraging my interest in computing technologies outside the desktop. I would like to thank the staff at Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. In particular I would like to show my appreciation for the passion and expertize of Mr. Robin Bigger. I would like to thank
Mr. William Gregge and White Watch Lisburn for sharing their many years of experience as firefighters on the front line. This research could not have been possible without their commitment. I would like to thank the staff at Northern Ireland
Ambulance Service. In particular I would like to thank Mr. Kevin Devine, Control
Manager and Training Officer in the Regional Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre in
Knockbracken Belfast. I would like to thank Mr. Norman Wotherspoon, duty control managers in the Regional Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre in Knockbracken
Belfast for sharing his expertize gained on the front line as a paramedic. I would like to thank Dräger Safety UK in Newcastle upon Tyne and in particular Mr. Michael
Dowson, head of Research and Development, and Mr Marcus Berney Smith, chief engineer on DrägerMan PSS® Merlin® Breathing Apparatus as described in
AppendixF, Example Equipment. Special thanks to my family for their support and inspiration throughout this period of study in assisting me achieve my goal.
Page 2 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350
Table of Contents
Preface 2
Table of Contents 3
List of Tables 8
List of Figures 9
List of Statements 11
Abstract 12
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION...... 14
1.1 The research question 14
1.2 The problem domain 14 1.2.1 Emergency Services...... 14 1.2.2 Northern Ireland...... 15 1.2.3 Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS)...... 18 1.2.4 Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS)...... 18
1.3 Technology 19
1.4 Aims of the research project 20
1.5 Objectives of the research project 21
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ...... 23
2.1 Public Services 26 2.1.1 Fire and Rescue Services ...... 26 2.1.2 Ambulance Service...... 26 2.1.3 Joint Operations...... 27 2.1.4 Summary...... 28
2.2 Environment Information 28 2.2.1 Summary...... 29
2.3 Technology 30
Page 3 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 2.3.1 Wearable Technology...... 30 2.3.2 Sensor Technology ...... 31 2.3.3 Pervasive Computing...... 32 2.3.4 Robotics Technology ...... 32 2.3.5 Spoken Dialogue Technology...... 33 2.3.6 Navigation Technology...... 33 2.3.7 Communication Technology...... 34 2.3.8 Summary...... 35
2.4 Summary of Literature Review 35
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHOD...... 37
3.1 Survey – Interviews 38
3.2 Commerce/industry data analysis – Document Studies 40
3.3 Focus Group 42
3.4 Interaction of Selected Research Methods 42
3.5 Analysis of Data 43 3.5.1 Understanding the Domain ...... 43 3.5.2 Task Classification...... 45
3.6 Testing the Results 46
3.7 Summary 47
CHAPTER 4 DATA COLLECTION...... 48
4.1 Process and Data Sources 48 4.1.1 Interviewing Emergency Crews...... 48 4.1.2 Interviewing IT Staff ...... 50 4.1.3 Interviewing Other Staff ...... 51 4.1.4 Document Studies...... 51
4.2 Weighting of Information 52
4.3 Preliminary Analysis 52
4.4 Summary 53
Page 4 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 CHAPTER 5 RESULTS ...... 54
5.1 Task Analysis 54 5.1.1 Scenario1 Chest Pain–NIAS...... 56 5.1.2 Scenario2 Car Crash NIAS ...... 59 5.1.3 Scenario3 Firefighters Trapped NIFRS...... 61 5.1.4 Scenario4 Car Crash–NIFRS...... 64 5.1.5 Scenario5–House Fire Persons Reported–NIFRS...... 66 5.1.6 Scenario6 Bombs on Premise NIFRS ...... 69 5.1.7 Scenario7–Confined Space Rescue–NIFRS ...... 72 5.1.8 Scenario8–High Rise Building NIFRS...... 74 5.1.9 Scenario9–Fuel Laundry Plant–Joint Operations...... 77
5.2 Task Categorization 80 5.2.1 Dräger (Telemetry) ...... 82 5.2.2 Modus System ...... 83 5.2.3 TetraSystem ...... 84 5.2.4 Thermal Imaging Camera ...... 85 5.2.5 CCTV...... 85 5.2.6 Mobile Phones ...... 85 5.2.7 Command and Support Unit ...... 86
5.3 Filling the Gaps with Computing Technology 87 5.3.1 Tracking and Locating...... 89 5.3.2 Mobile Data ...... 93 5.3.3 Sensor Applications ...... 98 5.3.4 Information Collection...... 102 5.3.5 Security...... 104 5.3.6 Communication...... 105 5.3.7 Excluded technologies ...... 109
5.4 Summary of Results 110 5.4.1 Major Improvement to Saving Lives ...... 111 5.4.2 Technology causing Minor Improvement to Saving Lives...... 112 5.4.3 Major Improvement to Efficiency of Emergency Services...... 113 5.4.4 Minor Improvement to Efficiency of Emergency Services ...... 114
5.5 Validation 114
CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSIONS...... 117
Page 5 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 6.1 Project review 117
6.2 Contribution to Knowledge 121
6.3 Future research 122
AppendixA. Information about Interviews with Emergency Crew 123
A 1. Interview Goals 123
A 2. Interview Session 124
A 3. List of Incidents attended by NIFRS 127
A 4. List of Incidents attended by NIAS 128
A 5. User Profile – Firefighter 130
A 6. User Profile – Paramedic 130
AppendixB. Glossary of Terminology 132
B.1. Domain Terminology 132
B.2. Firefighter Terminology 133
B.3. Ambulance and Medical Terminology 135
B.4. Technology Terminology 136
B.5. Acronyms 138
AppendixC. Example Forms 140
C.1 Print out in Fire Station 140
C.2 Patient Report Form (PRF) Page 1 142
C.3 Patient Report Form (PRF) Page 2 143
C.4 Fire Description Report (FDR) Page 1 144
C.5 Fire Description Report (FDR) Page 2 145
C.6 Fire Description Report (FDR) Page 3 146
C.7 Fire Description Report (PDR) Page 4 147
Page 6 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 C.8 NIFRS Vehicle Log Sheet 148
C.9 NIFRS Breathing Apparatus Log Sheet 149
AppendixD. Example Paperwork 150
AppendixE. Health and Safety Statement–NIFRS 154
AppendixF. Example Equipment 155
References 158
Index 170
Page 7 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350
List of Tables
TABLE 1: FACTS AND FIGURE S 2004/2005 NIFRS...... 18 TABLE2: FACTS AND FIGURE S 2004/2005 NIAS...... 19 TABLE 3:SUMMARY OF RESEARCH TECHNIQUES USED AND NOT USED...... 47 TABLE 4: FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS INTERVIEWED ...... 49 TABLE5:NIFRS AND NIAS IT STAFF INTERVIEWED ...... 50 TABLE 6:OTHER STAFF INTERVIEWED...... 51 TABLE 7: SUMMARY OF RESULTS FROM PRIMARY DATA SOURCE – PART 1...... 111 TABLE 8: SUMMARY OF RESULTS FROM PRIMARY DATA SOURCE – PART 2...... 112 TABLE 9: SUMMARY OF RESULTS FROM PRIMARY DATA SOURCE – PART 3...... 113 TABLE 10: SUMMARY OF RESULTS FROM PRIMARY DATA SOURCE – PART 4...... 114 TABLE 11: GLOSSARY OF DOMAIN TERMS...... 133 TABLE 12: GLOSSARY OF FIREFIGHTER TERMS...... 135 TABLE 13: GLOSSARY OF AMBULANCE AND MEDICAL TERMS ...... 136 TABLE 14: GLOSSARY OF TECHNOLOGY TERMINOLOGY ...... 138 TABLE 15: ACRONYMS...... 139
Page 8 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350
List of Figures
FIGURE 1: TIMELINE OF TERROR ACTS DURING "THE TROUBLES...... 17 FIGURE 2:MAJOR RESULTS OF THE LITERATURE SURVEY ON CURRENT BODY OF KNOWLEDGE ...... 25 FIGURE 3: SCENARIO1 CHEST PAIN NIAS ...... 56 FIGURE 4:TASK SCENARIO1A...... 57 FIGURE 5:TASK SCENARIO1B...... 58 FIGURE 6:SCENARIO2–CAR CRASH–NIAS ...... 59 FIGURE 7:TASK SCENARIO2...... 60 FIGURE 8:SCENARIO3 HOUSE FIRE PEOPLE TRAPPED NIFRS ...... 61 FIGURE 9:TASK SCENARIO3A...... 62 FIGURE 10:TASK SCENARIO3B...... 63 FIGURE 11:SCENARIO4–CAR CRASH NIFRS ...... 64 FIGURE 12:TASK SCENARIO4...... 65 FIGURE 13:SCENARIO5 HOUSE FIRE PERSONS REPORTED NIFRS ...... 66 FIGURE 14:TASK SCENARIO5A...... 67 FIGURE 15:TASK SCENARIO5B...... 68 FIGURE 16:SCENARIO6 BOMBS ON PREMISE NIFRS...... 69 FIGURE 17:TASK SCENARIO6...... 71 FIGURE 18:SCENARIO7 CONFINED SPACE RESCUE NIFRS ...... 72 FIGURE 19:TASK SCENARIO7...... 73 FIGURE 20:SCENARIO8 HIGH RISE BUILDING NIFRS ...... 74 FIGURE 21:TASK SCENARIO8A...... 75 FIGURE 22:TASK SCENARIO8B...... 76 FIGURE 23:SCENARIO9 FUEL LAUNDRY PLANT JOINT OPERATION...... 77 FIGURE 24:TASK SCENARIO9...... 79 FIGURE 25:TASK CATEGORIZATION TO SHOW CURRENT USE OF COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY IN THE EMERGENCY SERVICES IN NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 81 FIGURE 26:TELEMETRY SYSTEM...... 82 FIGURE 27:TASK CATEGORIZATION...... 88 FIGURE 28: PATIENT REPORT FORM (PRF) PAGE 1...... 142 FIGURE 29: PATIENT REPORT FORM (PRF) PAGE 2...... 143 FIGURE 30: FIRE DESCRIPTION REPORT (PAGE 1) ...... 144 FIGURE 31: FIRE DESCRIPTION REPORT (PAGE 2) ...... 145 FIGURE 32: FIRE DESCRIPTION REPORT (PAGE 3) ...... 146 FIGURE 33: FIRE DESCRIPTION REPORT (PAGE 4) ...... 147 FIGURE 34: NIFRS VEHICLE LOG SHEET ...... 148 FIGURE 35: NIFRS BREATHING APPARATUS LOG SHEET...... 149
Page 9 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 FIGURE 36: EXAMPLE OF INVENTORY OF FIRE ENGINE POCKETS(PAGE1)...... 150 FIGURE 37: EXAMPLE OF INVENTORY OF FIRE ENGINE POCKETS(PAGE2)...... 151 FIGURE 38: EXAMPLE OF AID MEMOIR(FRONT)...... 152 FIGURE 39: EXAMPLE OF AID MEMOIR(BACK)...... 153 FIGURE 40:HEALTH AND SAFETY STATEMENT–NIFRS...... 154 FIGURE 41:DRÄGERMAN TELEMETRY SYSTEM...... 155 FIGURE 42:DRÄGERMAN PORTABLE UNIT ...... 156 FIGURE 43:MODUS SYSTEM...... 157 FIGURE 44: THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA...... 157
Page 10 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350
List of Statements
STATEMENT 1: RESEARCH QUESTION 14 STATEMENT 2: NIFRS MISSION STATEMENT 18 STATEMENT 3: NIAS MISSION STATEMENT 19 STATEMENT 4:RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS 36
Page 11 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350
Abstract
There is a large number of computing technologies found in the office and used in every day routines but the transition to the challenging domain of emergency services, is less apparent. The aim of this study is to address the lack of computing technology at the front line operation of emergency services that could save lives and improve the safety and efficiency of the emergency crews. The study concentrated on the Northern
Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service
(NIAS).
It was the interesting Open University course, User Interface and Design Evaluation
(M873), which fostered my interest in computing outside a desktop and led to this choice of topic for the dissertation. There was also a family interest in selecting the emergency service aspect.
Emergency crew and IT staff were interviewed to understand front line operations.
Document studies of records, training artefacts and logs provided a natural source for result validation. All equipment employing computing technology was classified according to the task perform. The classification facilitated the identification of gaps in technology usage across the emergency organizations. A literature survey of suitable technology within this challenging context to fill the gaps was performed.
The results were tested using a focus group.
Analysis used techniques such as task scenarios, sequence diagrams and mind maps.
Page 12 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 A classification of the tasks is presented with six categories including tracking and locating, mobile data, information collection, sensor application, security and communication.
Ten technologies have been identified which will have major impact on saving lives and eight technologies with minor impacts. Ten technologies have been identified which will have major impact on improving the efficiency of emergency services and eight technologies with minor impacts.
The results shall serve as input to prototypes for equipment in this hostile environment.
Page 13 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 The research question
The proposed research question is stated below. It was the driving force of the project.
What computing systems, existing or practically envisaged, may be applied within the working environment of the emergency service of Northern Ireland with the intention of improving their effectiveness and efficiency? Effectiveness means saving lives and improving the safety of the emergency crews.
Statement 1: Research Question
1.2 The problem domain
1.2.1 Emergency Services
Firefighters rescue people and property from a wide variety of accidents. It is clearly a dangerous profession. Decisions that affect life are made in high stress environments.
There is a current lack of computing technology at the front line of emergency responses, partially due to the hostile operating environment for any tool. Privacy of data and public funding are other reasons. The advances in ubiquitous computing systems provide potential technology for firefighters.
Fire 2000 (2006) provide definitions for some of the extreme fire behaviour, like back draft, flash over and fire explosion, that are dealt with without much computing technology.
Paramedics are health care professionals assessing the patient and initiating any pre
Page 14 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 hospital medical treatment and care. Paramedics carry out life saving procedures making decisions with real life constraints such as time pressure, high stakes, personal responsibility, and shifting conditions. The importance of secure high service reliability in communication across the teams is shown in Tjora (2004). The nature of emergency responses is fundamentally different in terms of speed of decision making, the psychological state of the user and the operating conditions, which are extreme and dynamic.
The front line of the emergency service offers a challenging domain for computing technology to be applied. It is essential that the right resources and information be at the right place at the right time. Information may concern the status of the emergency crew, the victims or the surrounding environment. Currently, decisions are made on little information resulting in the potential for improvements in existing tools to help save lives and improve safety and efficiency of emergency crews.
1.2.2 Northern Ireland
It is interesting to know that any references to modernization made by the emergency services refer primarily to the saving of lives. Further reference is made to introducing a process of risk management and improving the partnership across agencies.
The home web sites provided good background information on organizational issues and statistics (Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, n. d.; Northern Ireland
Ambulance Service, n. d.).
A number of factors make Northern Ireland unique from the rest of the United
Page 15 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Kingdom. Firstly, there is disregard for authority with even politicians refusing to back emergency services. Some evidence of this statement is available in the following references:
• BBC News (2004) Crowds attack emergency services,
• BBC News (2005a) Firefighters come under attack,
• BBC News (2005b) Youths attack emergency workers,
• BBC News (2005c) Ambulance crew attacked by gang,
• Northern Ireland Office (2002) Secretary of State praises Emergency Services
Secondly there is more terrorism than the rest of the UK. Finally, poverty (Hillyard et al., 2003) results in dangerous activity such as fuel laundering (HM Revenue &
Customs, 2005), anti social behaviour such as joy riding (Smyth, 2003) and poor housing (Department for Social Development, Northern Ireland, 2005).
The news articles on the acts of terror, that reached the headlines, have been organized below in a time line. The time line does not take into account street violence and foiled terrorist attacks. The general lack of respect for authority is apparent in the everyday low level incidents in which the emergency services are involved.
Page 16 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350
Jan 1970, Creggan, Derry 5 killed including 2 children 1981, Bessbrook, 5 killed , 17 killed
Jan 1972, Bloody Sunday, Riots 14 killed 1982, Dropping Well Inn Disco, 17 killed 1990, Downpatrick Massacre, 4 Mar 1972, Donegall Street killed 1983, Darkley Gospel Hall, 3 killed 1990, Car Bomb, 7 killed 1973, Railway Street, Coleraine, 6 killed , 1987, Enniskillen Massacre, 11 died 1993, Shankill Bombing, 9 killed 1975, Tullyvallen Orange Hall, 5 killed , ,
1978, La Mon, 12 killed 1988, Ballygawley, 8 killed
1979, Lord Montabatten killed
2002, Pipe Bomb, 1 killed 1979, Warrenpoint Bombing, 18 killed , 1988, Lisburn, 6 killed 1976, Kingsmill Bombing, 10 killed
1998, Omagh Bombing, 28 killed 1974, Parnell Square, 26 killed , 1985, Newry Mortar Bomb, 9 killed 1992, Aldershot, 7 killed Jul 1972, Claudy Bombing, 9 killed , 1992, Teebane Crossroad, 8 Jul 1972, Bloody Friday, 22 bombs 10 killed killed Jul 1972, Customs Office, Newry, 9 killed May 1972, Short Strand, 8 killed 1981, Father&Son Bombing, 2 killed 1971, Brougher Mountain, 5 killed, McGurk's bar, 15 killed Figure 1: Timeline of Terror Acts during "The Troubles”
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1.2.3 Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS)
NIFRS operate across the province of Northern Ireland. According to Public
Information (2006), the organization has a work force of 2,000 people consisting of both uniformed staff and support services staff. The Fire Service has 67 stations, of which eight are full time, six are full time with part time back up, 52 are part time and one is a volunteer station. Their mission is
To create a safer environment for everyone by providing an effective firefighting, rescue and fire safety service.
Statement 2: NIFRS Mission Statement
The facts and figures presented by the organization are given in the table below.
Emergency calls received 53,838 Emergency incidents attended 33,132 Fire safety inspections 16,665 Rescues at road accident collisions 390 Rescues at fires and other calls 750 Deaths at road accidents (where NIFRS present) 74
Table 1: Facts and Figures 2004/2005 NIFRS
1.2.4 Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS)
NIAS operates across the province of Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Ambulance
Service, 2005). The organization has a work force of 870 staff. The Ambulance service has 32 stations throughout Northern Ireland. The service has 270 vehicles controlled by four divisional control centres.
Page 18 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Their mission is
To provide effective and efficient patient care to people in need and improve the health and wellbeing of the community through the delivery of high quality ambulance services.
Statement 3: NIAS Mission Statement
The facts and Figure s presented by the organization are given in the table below.
Emergency calls response 87,374 Emergency incidents classed as urgent 37,021 Patient care service 21,638
Table2: Facts and Figure s 2004/2005 NIAS
1.3 Technology
As stated by Xiaodong and coworkers (Xiaodong et al., 2004) firefighters make very little use of computers on the front line since most commercially available computers are designed for the office. However, in the last few years, there are technologies appearing, like wearable computing and pervasive computing, that are designed for everyday use outside the office. A next step in research is to investigate which technology could be used in the challenging front line environment of emergency services. Technology trends indicates that there will be an increased use of embedded technology, electronic sensors and miniaturized hardware to improve the way people work.
The aim of wearable computing is to build intelligent machines that provide automatic and autonomous support in people's everyday lives (Martin et al., 2000). Feldman et al.
(2005) suggests some hands free and eye free interaction techniques for wearable
Page 19 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 computers which is preferable for emergency crews. Pervasive computing is the trend towards increasingly ubiquitous connected computing devices in the environment. It is a trend being brought about by a convergence of electronic and wireless technologies.
The goal of researchers is to create a system that is pervasively and unobtrusively embedded in the environment.
Project Mesa (Project MESA, n. d.) shows a good beginning of introducing technology into the emergency services. The IP Firefighter 1 (Internet Protocol) was conceived by this project. It offers facilities to monitor the health of the firefighters, establish 3D positioning, collect environmental data and transfer voice and video data.
1.4 Aims of the research project
The global intention of the study is to identify the use of computing technology suitable for operation in the working environment of the emergency services of Northern Ireland with the intention of saving lives and improving the safety and efficiency of the emergency crews.
The study will show where existing technology could be used in this challenging domain. An emergency situation is generally characterized by its impact on the physical and psychological well being of an individual, the severe conditions of the environment and the need for timely responses. These characteristics imply any service that assists during emergency situations should be easy to use, should not require complicated
1 Or the electronic fireman. Just as every computer has an IP address, so would a firefighter. The connectivity would provide the ability to measure his location, health, capture and transmit data etc. .
Page 20 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 actions, should be easily and readily accessible and should produce results almost instantaneously.
The results may act as input to prototypes for potential applications employing computing technology for use within the emergency services of Northern Ireland which may eventually lead to an innovative product 2.
1.5 Objectives of the research project
The following are the objectives of this M801 Research Project:
1. To define the domain in which computing technology should function within the
emergency services.
2. To suggest, by studying reports of practice, the stages in the process of handling an
emergency situation, which may be amenable in the use of computing technology.
3. To identify the current and future road map of tools used in the front line of the
emergency services.
4. To compare the use of computing technology across the emergency services to
identify gaps in the individual organizations.
5. To recognize the gaps in the computing technology usage across the organizations
by understanding what has not been accomplished in the development of products
based on advances in computing technology.
6. To propose, for consideration for inclusion, those computing systems which are
practically envisaged as well as those currently not part of the technology road map
of the emergency services but which have been identified as potentially suitable for
2 One company in The Netherlands has expressed interest in this work. www. 2mel. nl
Page 21 of 171 Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 use in this challenging environment. The technologies will fill the gaps identified in
the objective above.
Objectives 1 and 2 addresses the aim and research question by identifying what can and can not operate in the working environment. Objectives 3 and 4 address the aim and research question in so far that it will show the current usage of technology across the organizations. Objective 5 addresses the aim and research question by showing what is possible with latest computing technology. Objectives 1 to 5 also address the aim and research question of identifying gaps in the current road map. Finally objective 6 shows which computing technology can fill the identified gaps, which is the answer to the research question.
In the conclusion of the dissertation, these objectives will be referenced.
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Chapter 2 Literature Review
The following discussion provides an overview of research work in the use of computer technology in the emergency services in Northern Ireland. The literature surveyed is summarized in Figure 2 overleaf.
There is substantial research material. Literature tends to address each public service individually rather than providing a look across multiple emergency organizations.
Studies are carried out mostly in the USA, which although performing the same goal, does so with a different organization and processes to that in Northern Ireland.
Whilst, there are numerous papers on failures within the emergency services these are less useful to the research here, e.g. the case study entitled ‘A comedy of errors: the
London Ambulance Services’ (Finkelstein and Dowell, 1996).
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350
Figure 2:Major results of the literature survey on current body of knowledge
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350
2.1 Public Services
The emergency services have always attracted a large number of researchers. A sample of the body of knowledge is given below. It is apparent that most research focuses highly on the control room or incident support services while fewer studies have been reported on the front line (McCarthy et al., 1997; Petterson et al., 2002). There is essential information in these papers, which complement the research being carried out here and provides further background information to the domain in which the technology must operate (Li and Miska, 1991; Project MESA, n. d. ; Tjora, 2004)
2.1.1 Fire and Rescue Services
The artefacts and processes used by firefighters in USA to assess, plan, and communicate during emergency situations are described by Xiaodong et al. (2004). A design for a ubiquitous computing system for firefighters was developed. The research work informs the reader of the major challenges and concerns facing firefighters. Tasks highlighted as important were accountability (through real time location tracking), communication and safety. This paper provided a good base to continue the research into the Northern Ireland domain and across emergency organizations.
2.1.2 Ambulance Service
This research builds on the important design rule introduced by Holzman (1999) which states that a designer must focus on the importance of any application being visually free of obstruction. Holzman (1999) suggests the introduction of technology to paramedics such as spoken dialogue and hands free.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350
Cooperation and information sharing is crucial according to a more recent paper of
Kristensen et al. (2006) in Emergency Medical Services. This opinion is an underlying theme of the research here. Kristensen et al. (2006) looks at the design process and stated that there is a need for innovation in making use of technology advances. A key to the success of the approach is the participation of emergency crew in the design which she calls Participatory Design approach. The research method here took that approach by heavily involving emergency crew during the collection of primary data.
The challenges of designing interactive devices in the emergency responses are mentioned in the paper Kyng et al. (2006) and co authored by Kristensen. The material formulates a set of design principles and visions that address the challenges of emergency responses. The identification of the challenges faced by paramedics is seen again in this research. Knowledge of these challenges is increased.
2.1.3 Joint Operations
The most documented rescue operation is the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre commonly known as 9 11. This unfortunate opportunity gave rise to the study of human robot interactions during a real un staged rescue. Casper (2002) carried out the research as a M. Sc. thesis and jointly with her professor published the text Casper and
Murphy (2003) which is a most informative paper on the human robot interactions during this urban search and rescue response. This article highlights the importance of
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 human and technology working together, the robots being considered as one of the team members.
2.1.4 Summary
Three main points can be extracted from the literature review, which informs the research here. Any technology introduced into the emergency services must be hands free and work alongside the human rather than replace the human. Communication and information sharing is key to the success of any emergency operation. Emergency crew must participate in the design of any application employing new technology.
2.2 Environment Information
This section gives a review of the current body of knowledge of the environment around an emergency. One underlying theme is that information is key to saving lives. The provision of information on the victim (e.g. medical history, location, injuries), emergency crew (e.g. location, physical condition, available resources) and surrounding environment (e.g. building plans, dangers of hazardous gases and chemicals) is necessary to meet the goals of emergency crew (Kristensen et al., 2006).
Much of the literature examines how humans react and make decisions in an emergency or crisis situation (Polzen, 1999; Turoff, 2002) due to the stress and trauma of their working environment (Hetherington, 2001). These give background information into the characteristics of a person that works within the real life constraints of time pressure, high stakes and shifting conditions. The process of decision making is a well researched theme. One book from Gary Klein views people as inherently skilled and experienced
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 (Klein, 1998). His opinion directed the research to stay away from decision making algorithms, which was seen in the approach of Li and Miska (1991). Klein’s material was better suited to the decision making of emergency services. It is recognized that the decision making process is different from the classic model. This is where people are viewed as unskilled and research is based on artificial tasks in a laboratory study.
Christen and Malone (2005) has the interesting title of ‘The development of human factors engineering requirements for firefighting protective equipment’. This material is interesting here as it shows the characteristics of a firefighter in terms of fitness level and stress level. The information is USA specific, which differs from Northern Ireland in terms of organization, pay, entrance exam and type of typical incident. The material is therefore only partially relevant to the research here.
2.2.1 Summary
The literature surveyed on the operating environment of emergency crew inform the readers that information is key to saving lives whether that is information about the status of the emergency crew, information about the victims or information in the surrounding environment. The literature surveyed on decision making process was only relevant when it was suitable for the challenging domain of the emergency services and that any technology introduced must be suitable for highly stressed users. These three points are built upon in this research.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 2.3 Technology
This section reviews the current body of knowledge for technology that could possibly be adopted in the emergency services. There are two general directions seen in the material, those that try and fit a human environment into technology and those that take a fresher look by forcing the technology into the human environment (Abowd et al.,
2002). This paper addresses Weiser’s human centred vision of ubiquitous computing.
Although somewhat older, the paper from Weiser offers the interesting guideline that a good tool is an invisible tool (Weiser, 1994). An invisible tool allows the user to focus on the task rather than the tool. Papers collaborating this rule show how any adopted technology must be effortless, familiar and rewarding (Chalmers et al., 2005).
These principles were used to primarily select potential technology 3 to answer the research question as well as influenced the research method adopted i.e. focusing on the tasks required to reach the goals of the emergency services.
2.3.1 Wearable Technology
Wearable technology is a typical invisible technology. Applications making use of this technology are different from personal devices, which provide information at our fingertips. The aim of wearable computing is to build intelligent machines that provide automatic and autonomous support in people's everyday lives (Blum, 2005).
3 Most terminology is defined in AppendixB, Glossary of Terminology
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 This technology is possibly transferable to the emergency services as indicated partially by the following literature. Feldman (2005) suggests some hands free and eye free interaction techniques for wearable computers. Martin et al. (2000) discusses the application of intelligent health monitors and another is Haniff and Baber (1999) which has the interesting title, “The wearable computers for the Fire Service and Police
Force”.
In fact, wearable technology is rather advanced with many research papers suggesting architectures, platforms (DeVaul et al., 2003) and the need for standardization (Murase and Ohno, 2004) or addressing the problems of wearable technology (Baber et al.,
1999). The findings of these papers will influence the selection of technology for particular tasks.
2.3.2 Sensor Technology
Wearable Technology encourages the researcher to look at different ways to interact with computing systems. This makes room for sensor technology.
Sensor technology is applied to telemetry applications i.e. the remote measurement or collection of data. Such technology would provide information for the emergency crew to make decisions. The temperature behind the door can be detected and so decrease the chance of backdraft or flash over situation (Barrero et al., 2004). The health of the patient could be relayed to the hospital in real time (Hashmi et al., 2005). Thermal imaging and sensors are discussed in Koumpis et al. (2006) which could potentially allow emergency crews to “see” when sight is impaired.
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The importance of context in wearable computing is highlighted as a difficulty in
Hinckley et al. (2000). Any devices should sense movement to recognize the context of events (light levels, tilt, and sound).
2.3.3 Pervasive Computing
Pervasive computing is a similar term to ubiquitous computing, nicknamed everyware .
It refers to mobile wireless devices and has become popular by the convergence electronic and wireless technologies. Kostakos and O’Neill (2004) describe pervasive computing in emergency situations. It looks at how pervasive systems can be introduced into large scale public environments that are not tightly controlled or monitored. The findings of the research found in these papers need to be addressed in the research here.
Hong and Landay (2004) addresses one of the pitfalls of pervasive computing, namely privacy. This is a strong requirement for any application to be used in the emergency services.
2.3.4 Robotics Technology
The use of robots in urban search and rescue is addressed in Scholtz et al. (2004) which identifies many of the weaknesses in the existing robotics technology. The research also shows the limitation of robotics technology for this application area.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 There is considerable material on robotics technology (Kiesler and Hinds, 2004) and the main contribution of the literature surveyed is the guidelines of human robot interaction design.
2.3.5 Spoken Dialogue Technology
Identifying methods of input and output other than touch suitable for emergency crew led to spoken dialogue technology (McTear, 2004). The problems of ill formed input and verification of input seem irrelevant to the research here while the problem of background noise is the greatest challenge. There appears not enough research to prove that the technology could be transferred to the challenging environment of emergency services.
2.3.6 Navigation Technology
There is a potential overlap between studies of interfaces for blind users and studies of interfaces for firefighters. Bradley and Dunlop (2005) shows that in recent years, there has been an escalation of orientation and navigation technologies and systems for visually impaired people.
Helal et al. (2001) presents “Drishti” which is a wireless pedestrian navigation system.
It integrates several technologies including wearable computers, voice recognition and synthesis, wireless networks, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global
Positioning System (GPS).
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 The many research papers on navigation show that there are two different technologies being used. GPS technology is primarily the subject of research papers to locate an object outside a building in an open environment as described in many papers e.g.
(Borriello et al., 2005; Chen et al., 2005; Harter et al., 1999; Hazas and Hopper, 2006;
Smith et al., 2004). An alternative technology like ultrasonic or radio frequency are the subject of research papers to locate an object within a building where accuracy is required (Christ et al., 2000; Want et al., 1992; Ward et al., 1997).
2.3.7 Communication Technology
There is a considerable amount of standardization already done in the field of telecommunication capability for emergency services (Murase and Ohno, 2004).
Telecommunication for emergency and disaster relief are given a lot of attention by
(EMTEL, n. d.). This material provides a framework for the research here.
Hashmi et al. (2005) shows an interesting application for wireless devices for use in an
Emergency Medical Response System. Wireless communication with miniaturization suitable for the uniform gear of emergency crew is represented as the next step.
Other researchers have taken the IP network for emergency services as a research subject (Zahid et al., 2004). Project Mesa (Project MESA, n. d.) conceived the concept of an IP firefighter. This theme was built upon during the research here.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 2.3.8 Summary
There is an abundance of literature on technology suitable for this challenging environment. The literature selected focused on being part of an invisible application allowing tasks to be carried out unobtrusively to reach a goal. The literature also helped identified the pitfalls of using each individual technology. The researcher used this information in the selection of the technology for a task by understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each.
2.4 Summary of Literature Review
There was considerable work identified as complementary to this research and hence providing relevant background information. The literature about fire and rescue services and ambulance services tend to be about computer aided dispatch and control room operations rather than the front line.
There was no relevant research literature found on the use of computing technology within the emergency services of Northern Ireland hence making this research unique.
The literature about public services inform us that applications must be hands free, communication and information sharing is key to success and emergency crew must participate in the design of any application.
The literature surveyed on the operating environment in which an emergency takes place has the underlying theme that information sharing is the key to successfully completing a task. The decision making required in this environment differs from the
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 classic model due to the nature of the tasks performed. Finally the highly stressed users influence the selection of the technology to fill the gaps identified in this research work.
The literature surveyed about technology is abundant and was selected for its human centred approach as this was claimed to be most suitable for the challenging environment of the research subject. Typical technology needed to recede into the background so that the physical instances of these technologies were not obvious e.g.
Wearable technology and pervasive 4 computing. The technology within the tools needed to be completely transparent so that the focus is on the goal being achieved rather than the technology inside the unit. Communication technology needed to be mobile and wireless. Any technology selected needed to cooperate with the human users rather than replace them e.g. robotics. The pitfalls of each technology were highlighted in the literature reviewed e.g. the importance of privacy, the difficulty of background noise.
In conclusion of this chapter, the research hypothesis is formed below.
There is a significant potential to apply computing technology at the front line of emergency services in Northern Ireland to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. Statement 4:Research Hypothesis
This suggestion is being tested in the coming chapters.
4 See B.4, Technology Terminology for terminology.
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Chapter 3 Research Method
This section looks at the research method used to solve the research question.
References are made back to (Chapter 2:Literature Review) where similar techniques have been used.
The main research methods selected as a way of obtaining well founded results in a systematically and repeatable fashion are threefold. Firstly, a survey technique was used in the form of interviews. Secondly commerce/industry data analysis technique was used in the form of document studies. Finally, a focus group was used for validation.
Live observation as identified in M801 (Block 5, p. 65) was considered, as recommended by Preece et al. (2002). On reflection this method would perhaps put the researcher in danger and involve unpleasant scenes. This decision was recognized as a limitation of the primary source, namely there was a lack of direct observation of the emergency crews at work. The sense of emergency and urgency of actions and decisions was missed e.g. The level of noise of a fire burning, chain saws cutting through a roof and sirens blaring can most easily be understood by being at an incident. To minimize this limitation, training artefacts, like Video: Compartment
Fires (2006), have been studied.
Case studies as identified in M801 (Block5, p. 65) were carried out in a similar research subject by Martin et al. (2000). This research method was rejected as the
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 work undertaken by the emergency services is so varied. A large number of case studies would have to be performed to cover the tasks performed. There was not sufficient time for this.
3.1 Survey – Interviews
The research method of interview was selected, as it is most suited to gaining the subjects’ experience, perceptions, opinions and attitudes. An interview allowed the subject to respond in their own words, to explain the behaviour in terms of their own values, goals and expectations. This method was successfully used in Haniff and
Baber (1999) and Xiaodong et al. (2004).
The interview technique allowed for in depth probing of key areas unlike a questionnaire (Sharp et al., 2002). The first set of interviews with the front line emergency crews was semi structured. There was no wish to inhibit a relaxed conversation during the interview. The questions were open ended ensuring the collection of richer data. The second set of interviews with the IT members of staff were unstructured although a set of topics to be covered was prepared. These are men with considerable experience and to put it simply were gold mines of information.
Interviews were administered face to face as all candidates lived locally. They were completed in a Fire Station or Ambulance Station to learn, by osmosis, the organizational structure, routines, regular operation and typical environment.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 The interview provided an opportunity for candidate feedback, which was a distinct advantage to questionaries. The researcher redirected unfruitful directions. The researcher probed answers for clarification or expansion. Observation supplemented answers.
The length of interview time was probably longer than normally gained in research.
Especially on weekend shifts and night shifts, there was considerable amount of time waiting around for calls. Therefore the interview technique is most suitable as generally it takes longer than questionnaires. The longer time assured the researcher that the response was actually what the candidate intended.
Another advantage of face to face interviews rather than telephone interview is that visual aids were used e.g. providing a list of incident types and equipment was demonstrated.
The disadvantage of interview is the significant scope for interviewer bias (Rugg and
Petre, 2006), whether this is in the way the question is rephrased or just the tone of the voice. This disadvantage was lessened with the researcher’s experience and a focus group for validation of final results.
The interviews were backed up with email correspondence. Further short interviews were held with NHS first line staff and A&E doctors.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 The semi structured interviews were piloted with one friendly candidate, a retained firefighter.
3.2 Commerce/industry data analysis – Document Studies
The research method document studies was selected as many useful facts were found in the records, logs, reports and recorded training artefacts (Holz et al., 2006). These provided a naturally occurring source of information as indicated by (Pettersson et al.,
2002).
This material is found in every public service due to the accountability of the organizations. The material is often found to be complete, authentic and accurate as it acts as input to many other processes including insurance companies or police force.
There is no advantage for emergency crews to colour incident reports, which is a typical disadvantage of using document studies for research methods during similar research (Xu and Bruce Croft, 2000).
The information gave insight into the process, interactions and organizational character and culture that an individual may skip during an interview. The emergency organizations are process orientated. These are well documented due to the long history of the services as seen in Shaw (1871) by Sir Eyre Massey Shaw. An examination of the training artefacts showed how incidents should be executed. The training material gave context to the work required and offered completeness of the problem.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Document studies provided an unobtrusive form of data collection, offering a complementary data source from interview technique.
The document studies revealed the facts while the survey showed opinions. The technique was seen as strengthening the pure interview technique, above, offering a stronger base for the collection of the primary source of data.
Document Studies do have the disadvantage that they are time consuming. Limiting the study to only documents referred to in the interviews minimized the study time.
Document Studies was also used to obtain an understanding of the advances in technology. The literature survey (Chapter 2, Literature Review) done at the beginning of the project provided a good academic base to start the suggestions. A
Google search engine 5 running daily for the 9 month duration of the project painted a real time picture of the advances being made. If time and money had permitted a more thorough approach may have been adopted. One suggestion is speaking to experts in each technology field by attending seminars and exhibitions or technology shows. To minimize this limitation, more than one source of information was obtained and news articles on the exhibitions were read.
5 Keywords included Technology Emergency Services Firefighter Paramedic
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 3.3 Focus Group
The research method focus group was selected to provide the researcher with insight into the validity of the results. A similar approach called project group was described in Kyng et al. (2006). A focus group allowed for extensive probing, group discussion and observation of emotional reaction not possible in a quantitative study such as a telephone or mail survey (Sullivan, 1991). The subjective opinions and perceptions of the small targeted group were gathered. The focus group was used to gather information on the acceptability and useability of the results of the research project.
Whereas other techniques give the individual opinions and attitudes the focus group gave a group understanding and gained insight into the shared responsibility of the emergency organizations (Preece et al., 2002).
An alternative to the focus group technique was requesting that each candidate view the suggestions being made by the research project and comment on their acceptance and useability. The group aspect of this approach is missing from the technique i.e. the group dynamics, benefits of interaction and collaboration. It was considered not as effective as the focus group.
3.4 Interaction of Selected Research Methods
The research methods selected were iterative. This ensured that results were validated with each cycle. Survey results and document studies interacted. Information that was found in one research methodology needed explanation from the other. Document
Studies combined with an interview offered complementary data source as well as cross checking similar data.
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The focus group occurred at the end of the project and was used primarily to check the validity of the research findings.
3.5 Analysis of Data
Data Analysis brought order and structure to the data gathered. The goal of the analysis was to obtain a description of the domain in which the emergency crews work and to document the current use of computing technology in the emergency services.
3.5.1 Understanding the Domain
The aim was to define the domain in which the emergency crews work and hence the operating domain for any suggested computing technology.
This was done by task analysis, which is the examination of the way that the emergency crews perform their work as used in Kostakos and O’Neill (2004). The analysis was an in depth look at the tasks and the actions a person undertook, along with the knowledge they had (or needed) to perform tasks and reach their goal (M873,
Unit 2).
Choosing this technique assumed that the emergency crew would be able to define their work in terms of goals, tasks and actions. It was found that both organizations were process oriented and hence task driven and so a natural choice of analysis technique. The limitation of the method was the unfamiliarity of the technique with
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 the emergency services. This was overcome by interpreting any deliverable for the candidates.
This analysis method allowed for a user centred approach (Weiser, 1994) rather than concentrating on the computing systems which had been successful in previous research as shown in Chapter 2, Literature Review.
Sequence Diagrams The task analysis was done using UML sequence diagrams of typical work scenarios e.g. attending a car crash or a collapsed patient. Emphasis lay on the sequence of actions performed at the front line of an incident. The information that was available at the time was clearly marked. Indications were made as to what information was not available, if this was relevant to defining the domain.
An obvious disadvantage is that non IT people do not read UML easily and any results needed interpretation.
This technique firstly identified all actors i.e. humans and computing systems involved in front line emergency response. The diagrams concentrate on information, as was shown to be important in 2.2, Environment Information. The diagrams gave a feel as to what information was available or not. The diagrams indicated where complexity lay.
In general, a limitation of the task sequence diagram is that it does not allow for alternative ways to perform a task. Although it was found that procedures are well
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 defined in the emergency services. Another limitation was that the urgency of action was not apparent. The task scenarios complemented the analysis.
Task Scenarios
The sequence diagrams were backed up with task scenarios. Task scenarios are narrative descriptions of a task, describing the current use of computing systems. Any problems the emergency staff had with the current system were included in the description. They described a specific instance and situation.
The advantage of this approach was the ease of analysing the data. The scenarios also addressed many of the disadvantages of the sequence diagrams e.g. difficult to read for non IT staff. The disadvantage was the large amount of data generated by the results.
3.5.2 Task Classification
The aim was to provide a classification of tasks that are performed. Existing or future tools used to meet or partially achieve the goal were organized according to the classification. The classification was created so that the gaps could easily be identified.
Each scenario was assessed in the light of the existing or potential computing technology usage. Any future road map item was also accounted for. The ordering of the task in this way allowed for interpretation of where the gaps were as well as comparing the use of computing technology across the emergency organizations.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Document Studies was also used to obtain an understanding of the advances in technology, as described in 3.2, Commerce/industry data analysis – Document
Studies. If time and money had permitted a more thorough approach may have been adopted. This provided suggestion for the filling of the gaps. These were tested during the follow up interviews.
Reasoning was used to analyse and interpret data.
3.6 Testing the Results
Cross checking of the results of the interview and the results of the document studies ensured the results were reasonable, logical, coming from a sound source and reliable.
This verification was necessary since interpreting qualitative data required reasoning.
Email correspondence with the interviewees confirmed any new findings in document studies.
Follow up interviews were carried out with IT staff after all data had been collected and analysed. These interviews gave feedback at an early stage to ensure the validity of the results. This confirmed that the task analysis was accurate and that all equipment employing computing technology had been identified.
A focus group, external to the interviewees was formed to verify that the results were correct. A walkthrough of the results showed the validity of the deductions. The focus
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 group decreased the chance of the researcher being bias. The importance of not being biased and remaining objective was paramount to the success of the project.
3.7 Summary
Technique Used? Some reasons for selection Live N Dangerous, Unpleasant Observation Case Study N Not sufficient time to cover large range of tasks performed Survey – Y Most suited to gaining experience etc. in depth probing, Interview local face to face, allowed feedback Questionaire N No feedback, Time was not an issue Telephone N All lived locally Interview Document Y Natural source of information in environment, no advantage Study for colourful reports, old establishments so lots of history and training artefacts, unobstructive form of data collection, factual. Focus Group Y Benefit from use of group, benefit from use of external views, subjective opinions Reviewing of N Missed the group approach. Deliverables Table 3: Summary of Research Techniques Used and Not Used
This section introduced the three research methods being used to answer the research question. Each method was back up with reasons for the selection and how any limitation identified was minimized. Although presented in a linear fashion, it was explained that the process was iterative, each cycle finished with some form of validation of the results.
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Chapter 4 Data Collection
This section describes the data collection from the primary source using the methods described in Chapter 3, Research Method.
The primary source of data was obtained by interviewing the emergency crews, inspecting training artefacts, records and logs and interviewing IT staff of the emergency services.
The information was recorded in a notebook as well as with a digital camera, photocopier and Dictaphone.
4.1 Process and Data Sources
The process is presented in a linear fashion although performed in an iterative way.
Interviews occurred with one candidate, which was then backed up and validated by document studies. Emails provided further clarification or validation of results.
4.1.1 Interviewing Emergency Crews
The candidates were selected if they had many years of experience and showed sympathy for computer technology. There was no attempt made to obtain a representative sample e.g. female/male, young/old, computer literate/non computer literate. The Lisburn (NIFRS) and Knockbracken (NIAS) contained staff that was trialling new technology like Tetra and the modus system (See 5.2, Task
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Categorization). Finally, the freedom of information office in both NIFRS and NIAS helped in identifying candidates for interview.
The individual semi structured interview was carried in the candidate’s work place, which was a fire or ambulance station. The interview also recorded their inventions and opinions.
The interviewees were selected for their experience rather than a cross section of the services:
Name Date Length Type of Candidate Interview Time Billy Gregge 08 July 2006, 10 hours Firefighter – Crew 22 July 2006, Commander 28 years 15 September 2006, experience 22 September 2006 Sam Braithwaite 29 September 2006 2 hours Firefighter – 8 years experience Rab Blair 29 September 2006 2 hours Firefighter – Watch Commander 15 years experience Mark Fell 02 November 2006 Firefighter – Station Commander – 16 years experience Norman 25 August 2006, 3 hours Ambulance Service Wotherspoon 30 October 2006 Keith Stewart 04 September 2006 1 hour Station Commander. Ambulance Crew David Hope 05 October 2006 30 minutes Paramedics with 29 years experience Gus Geddes Paramedic Nick Thompson 16 September 2006 1 hours Firefighter – Instructor in Training Centre – Watch Commander Table 4: Firefighters and Paramedics interviewed
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Further details on the interview are given in AppendixA, Information about
Interviews with Emergency Crew.
4.1.2 Interviewing IT Staff
The candidates interviewed above made suggestions on who to interview in the IT staff. The freedom of information offices helped in identifying candidates for interview.
The interviews were individual and unstructured for IT staff of NIFRS and NIAS.
Their goal was to identify the use of existing technology and the road map of future technology usage. All interviews were carried out in the candidate’s work place i.e. at or near the control room.
The interviewees were again selected for their experience:
Name Date Length of Type of Candidate Interview Time Robin Bigger 15 May 2006 4 hours Group Commander – IT 02 November 2006 Department – Communications Department NIFRS Kieran 21 June 2006 2 hours Paramedic and Training Officer – Devine IT Department NIAS Finton White 02 November 2006 1 hour Station Commander – Technical Department – NIFRS
Table 5:NIFRS and NIAS IT staff interviewed
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 4.1.3 Interviewing Other Staff
Emergency crews interface to many support teams and other emergency organizations. An emergency is successful if everyone affected works as a team.
Anyone that was mentioned in a task scenario of (5.1, Task Analysis) was interviewed.
Name Date Type of Candidate
Jean Anderson 20 December 2006 A&E nurse – Craigavon
Mister Harry Lewis 27 December 2006 A&E doctor – Dundonald
Dr. John Wilson 27 December 2006 Family Doctor (GP) now retired with 45+ years experience. John Philips 01 July 2006 Friendly Candidate, retain fire fighter
Paul Reid 16 June 2006 Friendly Candidate, non emergency crew, colleague Carleen McNally Various Human Resources in NIFRS
Table 6: Other Staff Interviewed
4.1.4 Document Studies
Training artefacts records and logs where inspected at the station to provide additional information in the understanding of the domain. It also acted as validation.
The items were carefully selected to reduce the amount of information studied that was available in the emergency services. Only articles related to the scenarios
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 outlined in (5.1, Task Analysis) were studied. Also the training officers in NIFRS and
NIAS provided guidance in what should be studied.
4.2 Weighting of Information
Information received from different sources was weighted differently. It was assumed that the records and logs were more accurate than the interviews. Records and logs gave the facts. It was also assumed that the emergency crew with more front line experience had better understanding of the domain, while IT staff had better understanding of what was feasible in the domain.
No information was taken at face value. All information was validated, obtained from multiple sources, reviewed by email or during the final interview or cross checked between document studies and interviews with emergency crew. This ensured that the difference in weighting of information collected from primary sources was not an issue.
4.3 Preliminary Analysis
Some interesting points arose before data analysis occurred. There was significantly more computing technology within NIFRS than NIAS. NIFRS was considerably more advanced in terms of technology than expected. Both emergency organizations have concentrated on areas away from the front line.
A mind map was constructed to assist in forming a categorization of tasks performed by emergency crews (Figure 27:Task Categorization ). This evolved further after each interview or document studied.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 4.4 Summary
This section identified the primary source of data being used to answer the research question. It showed how care was taken in the selection of candidates and documents studied; thereby ensuring the primary sources shall ensure the research question can be answered successfully. It indicated why the particular sources were selected.
Finally reference was given to some interesting points arising before analysis was performed. The next section is the results of analysing and interpreting this primary data.
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Chapter 5 Results
This chapter presents the project’s results in three sections. They were obtained after analysis and interpretation of the data collected, as described in the previous chapter.
The results of the task analysis are presented in 5.1, Task Analysis and are in the form of UML sequence diagrams and task scenarios. The results define the domain in which any computing technology must operate.
The results of categorizing the tasks above are presented in 5.2, Task Categorization
The equipment used today that employs computing technology is placed in their respective category(s).
The categorization facilitates identifying the tasks, which show a lack of computing technology that is the gaps, which may be filled, with computing technology. The results are presented in 5.3, Filling the Gaps with Computing Technology. This answers the research question.
5.1 Task Analysis
This section takes an in depth look at the tasks and actions undertaken, along with the knowledge needed to perform the tasks to reach the goal. Weiser (1994) demonstrated the importance of this human centric approach. Understanding how emergency crew work is important in identifying applications that will support the tasks invisibly as
Abowd et al. (2002) recommended.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 The goal is an end result to be achieved. The task is a structured set of related activities that are undertaken in some sequence. An action is defined as an individual operation or step that needs to be undertaken as part of the task.
The results are presented as UML sequence diagrams identifying the actors in the tasks, the actions and the information flow. A limitation of this technique is that missing information is not presented. The feeling of urgency is lacking, as there is no indication of time on the diagrams. It also assumes that there is procedures followed which was verified during interviews.
To diminish these limitations, the results are backed up with task scenarios , a narrative description of a task, emphasizing the information required, a key ingredient shown by other researchers 2.2, Environment Information. A limitation of this technique is that task scenarios are very detailed and take time to produce. They help bridge the divide between the working culture and language of the emergency crew and the researcher. Any problems and difficulties in obtaining information are included in the description. Task scenarios are personalized, and describe a specific instance and situation of use.
Tasks were selected for this section based on the frequency of the type of incident.
Other incident types are listed in (A 3, List of Incidents attended by NIFRS, A 4, List of Incidents attended by NIAS).
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 The results gained an understanding of the working environment necessary to answer the research question.
5.1.1 Scenario1-Chest Pain–NIAS
Figure 3: Scenario1 Chest Pain NIAS
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A 999 call has been received that a patient suffering chest pain has transport. The defibrillator is a sophisticated piece of machinery. There collapsed in a church. The 999 call is received in Knockbracken, in is no information relayed back to hospital, eg.the ECG reader, the control room. It is relayed to the ambulance station, which is defibrillator, medical apparatus, blood pressure apparatus have no nearest to the location. Note this is not the nearest ambulance to the connection to the hospital. location, as the location of the ambulance is currently not known. The ambulance is well equipped with medical drugs and accessories. The message is relayed to the ambulance crew, a paramedic and a The stock control of the logistics takes up considerable time on the driver. This is done verbally. The paramedic and driver often change ambulance crew. There are two categories of goods that need to be roles. They work 12 hour shift patterns together with the change replenished, those that are often used and those that are seldom used. over times of 08:00 and 20:00. Ordering is not straightforward. There is no automation in the control Note that the caller is kept on the line if this can help the patient. of stock in the ambulance with such consumables. This is verbal communication with the caller. It is not possible to The ambulance is locked at the incident. There are three doors. One in send video or pictures, eg.resuscitation procedure, to the caller even the front of the ambulance, one at the side and the one at the back for if the caller is on a mobile phone or videophone. It is noted that taking the patients in and out by stretcher. It is wired in such a way that there are little facilities for hard of hearing or foreign callers the handbrake is applied if the ambulance is tampered with, so it can (eg.there is no Internet language translation used). not be driven off. There are 8 batteries on board, so that even if the The details of the incident are written on a sheet of paper (eg.name, blue lights are flashing while the vehicle is stationary at an incident and age, address, information about the location and anything thought to the engine is switched off, the vehicle can still be driven away be relevant) by the station controller and handed to the ambulance afterwards. crew, if there is sufficient time. It is only relevant to the ambulance All ambulance crew will tell you about the golden hour. This is time crew, the name of the town that they are heading too at this stage. from the scene of the accident until the patient is in the hospital. The ambulance crew is generally going blindfold to an incident. It should be noted that data collection revolves around the Patient They are provided with out of date maps. Report Form (See appendix C2 and C3). It contains the name, age, and The ambulance crew jumps into the ambulance waiting outside in location of incident, signs and symptoms. It is filled in during the the yard. More information is conveyed to them as they travel to the length of time the incident is attended. It is required to ensure that incident. This is verbal and gives no more than patient details that ambulance crew is following procedures and it also may be required were relayed via the control room. It is often the case that the caller for legal purposes. It also provides a source for statistics for funding hangs on the telephone if there is anything abnormal about the and clinical auditing (giving details of what type of accident, how often patient. and when accidents happen). On arriving at the incident, the paramedics stabilize the patient for Figure 4:Task Scenario1a
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The patient report form is paper based and must be typed into various systems once back at the station or hospital. There is no scan facility or automated fill in available.
The patient is transported to the hospital. The paramedic stays in the back with the patient. The driver is in the front. In theory, there is a sliding door, which should be locked when the vehicle is moving. There is a genuine uneasy feeling about this practice concerning only one paramedic being present with a patient, especially if patient gender is mixed. Therefore the door often stays open.
There is a CCTV camera in the ambulance which allows the driver to see what is going on behind in the ambulance. A panic button allows the CCTV to start recording. It is more for security rather than for the patient. There are no pictures relayed to the hospital.
On arrival from the hospital there is a hand over. The paramedic gives the important information first. He then hangs around and further information may be necessary to give to the hospital staff. The hospital is given one copy of the patient report form.
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5.1.2 Scenario2-Car Crash-NIAS
Figure 6:Scenario2–Car Crash–NIAS
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One ambulance crew did admit to using the video camera on his phone A 999 call has been received that a car has crashed on the to show the hospital staff, the traffic crash. This was considered motorway, M2. There is only one car involved and at least 2 people important information for medical staff at the hospital. This was injured inside. The 999 call is received in Knockbracken, in the particularly useful when it appeared that the victim had no injuries but control room. It is relayed to the ambulance control, which is nearest the severity of the crash would indicate otherwise. to the location. Note this is not the nearest ambulance to the The patient is transported back to the hospital. The paramedic stays in location, as the location of the ambulance is currently not known. the back with the patient. The driver is in the front. There is one ambulance sent per victim, in general. The location There is no patient information relayed back to the hospital eg.the may be vague. blood pressure, ECG information nor pictures relayed to the hospital. The message is relayed to the ambulance crew, a paramedic and a Although this may be done verbally by mobile phone. driver. This is done verbally. On arrival from the hospital there is a hand over. The paramedic gives The details of the location of the incident are written on a sheet of the important information first. He then hangs around and further paper by the station controller and handed to the ambulance crew, if information may be necessary to give to the hospital staff. The hospital there is sufficient time. The ambulance crew is generally going blind is given one copy of the patient report form. fold to an incident. They have no idea what the accident looks like or any details of the patients, type of car etc. The ambulance crew jumps into the ambulance waiting outside in the yard. More information is conveyed to them as they travel to the incident, if more information becomes available. This is verbal and gives no more than patient details that were relayed via the control room. It is often seen that the caller hangs on the telephone if there is anything abnormal about the patient. On arriving at the incident, the paramedics stabilize the patients. The paramedics rely on the victims giving them accurate information about themselves and their injuries. There is no way of identifying the patient through fingerprints, palm prints, video images etc. Nor downloading patient history. All ambulance crew will tell you about the golden hour. This is time from the scene of the accident until the patient is in the hospital.
Figure 7:Task Scenario2
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5.1.3 Scenario3-Firefighters Trapped-NIFRS
Figure 8:Scenario3 House Fire People Trapped NIFRS Page 61 of 171
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Back into bed after a busy night of stupid little fires. All they think only of the chance of doing it well. the watch was lying in their bed at 0330. The eerie silence The BA team dawns their mask and hand their tallies to the ECO is broken by the sound of the turn out alarm and the lights (Entry Control Officer) where he works out manually the time of come on. Everyone jumps out of bed and look at the whistle (time the firefighters should be out) with 10 minute safety board. It lights up 1 and 2 meaning it is a serious fire. margin. Hearts are beating (the alarm was designed this way). While the BA team is dawning up the rest of the crew are pulling Everyone makes their way down the pole and heads off a high pressure hose reel (which will fight most house fires). towards the machine. The OIC takes the print out And lying out a covering jet (of hose) to protect the BA team in underway (See C.1, Print out in Fire Station). He checks case something goes wrong. As another member of the team has the address. He also notes on the print out that another to use a sledgehammer to break the front door in. Thick black machine is being turned out. He asks if anyone knows the smoke is leaving the house as the BA team enters taking the hose address. reel jet with them. The first place they head for is the upstairs The fire engine proceeds to the call. Maps are available in knocking the fire down to gain access to the stairs. the fire engine. It is close and local knowledge was used. The second machine (appliance) crew is putting up a ladder as an There was no time to put the information in the computer. emergency escape to the first floor in case the stairways On the way to the call, the OIC is carrying out a Dynamic collapses. On gaining access to the first floor the BA team starts Risk Assessment (DRA) in his head for the worst case their search, all the time checking their gauges and watching their scenario. On arrival, he carries out a further DRA on the consumption of air (also monitored by the ECO via the telemetry ground at the fire. This is normally done within seconds. system). The searching starts with the first room. It is all done by He finds people screaming and trapped in the house. touch and feel as you cant see anything. Black smoke is filling the house. The BA team came across an unconscious casualty. They are Adrenaline is flowing, tension is high and everyone is pulled from the bed and taken down the stairs to fresh air when a geared up ready to fly into action to manage the member of the fire brigade gives them NU PAK (a resuscitator) emergency situation. It is everything the firefighters have and starts CPR (Coronary Pulmonary Resuscitator). been trained for, the whole team. At times like this no one The BA team goes back upstairs to continue the search of the first remembers the failed rescues. No one thinks of the floor. As they are searching the first floor, the second BA team is aftermath, the personal price, fitting the fire on the ground floor.
Figure 9:Task Scenario3a
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On continuing the search, all of a sudden there is a mighty equipment on the ERT (Emergency Rescue Tender). As work explosion. The gas main has erupted and there has been a gas continues it is noticed that supporting walls of the houses are very explosion sending a fireball through the house. The unstable. The firefighters decide this visibly. They saw the gable downstairs BA team, which was fighting, managed to escape walls swaying in and out. This is hard to recognize for an with burns and cuts. inexperienced firefighter. Especially when there are metal structures, The upstairs search and rescue BA team does not appear. 20 which expand in the heat so knocking out walls. A radio message is seconds later, the ECB lights up like a Christmas team and sent back to controls to mobilize the USART (Urban search and audible warning sound is heard. The ECO shouts to OIC, we rescue team) which has specialist equipment for supporting large have a BA emergency. This is typically a situation where the unstable structures. OIC must make decisions in this high stress environment. After the walls are made safe, work can continue to free the BA team. That is why the OIC is constantly assessing the system and As they are freed using lifting bags and specialist lifting equipment making a dynamic risk assessment. Firefighting is about the two casualties are removed and taken to a nearby ambulance making lots of decision with little information. where a doctor checks them before being dispatched to hospital. A message is sent back to the control room via the control The OIC has to consider if there was anyone else in the house. This room – BA emergency. This is done manually. Where two can be done by asking neighbours and by checking with the further appliances and a senior officer is dispatched. On using occupants of the house, if this is possible. On satisfying himself that the covering jet, to dowse the fire as quick as possible. A there are no more people in the house, his main concern now is to search and rescue team is sent into the rubble and try to find hand the incident over to the police and the fire investigation unit. the BA team. The OIC needs to write down details for his FDR (Fire Descriptive The house has collapsed around them. They are found Report). He also has to consider handing the building over to the reasonably quickly but are heavily trapped. The ECO warns local government agency (building control) as the house is unsafe. the OIC that the original BA team have only 10 minutes of air The appliances are made up and everyone returns to their base station left. The rescue team takes in two spare BA sets with an where all equipment is checked, cleaned and service before the EASE (Emergency Air Supply Equipment) hose for each set. firefighters can get themselves cleaned. This can take from 20 The EASE hose connected to the spare BA set and fed minutes until two hours, depending on the equipment used. Each through the rubble and connected to the EASE port on the BA piece of equipment checked is signed off (See C.9) And there ends set. The air cylinders are refilled. This is confirmed by the another night shift. The fire report is filled in manually at a more telemetry system on the ECO board. The work starts on convenient time (See C.4). There are no auto fill details. clearing the rubble from the BA team using specialist Figure 10:Task Scenario3b
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5.1.4 Scenario4-Car Crash–NIFRS
Figure 11:Scenario4–Car Crash NIFRS
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The firefighters stabilize the car before the cutting starts. The casualty The white watch is sitting in the galley having morning tea. The is covered in reinforced blankets. All batteries and electrics are beeps go. A ‘1’ shows on the board. Everyone makes their way to disconnected. Glass management occurs i.e. there are machines for the machine. cutting out windows. The roof is taken of the car. This can be done in The OIC takes the print out underway (See C.1) The address reads 30 seconds. Sometimes it is necessary to take off the side of the car. A Bunpark Road at the junction of Anderstown Road. At the bottom of generator runs all the hydraulic gear. Sharp blankets are used once the the sheet it reads RTA (as opposed to house fire). The print out roof is taken off. This protects both the emergency crew and casualties. gives very little data. It does not give how many cars are involved The only task left for the fire service is to assist the paramedics getting unless the caller of 999 call explicitly says so. the casualties out of the car and into the ambulance. Normally this is Whether other emergency services attend the call depend on what done on a spine board. There is only two ambulance crew while more the caller has said to the control room. In this scenario, the fire firefighters. service has been requested as they saw that people were trapped but The firefighters pack up and go back to the station. The inventory (See in other cases an ambulance may be requested. appendix) is checked that all pieces of equipment have been packed in On the way to the incident, the OIC is thinking of what needs to the vehicle. There is an inventory in each pocket, which lists the happen. The firefighters in the back of the vehicle are dressing in equipment that should belong in each pocket. The inventory is often their high visibility jackets. If the print out was to say TSV not referred to, as experience is a better judge of replacing which (Technical Support Vehicle) or ET (emergency tender) then the OIC equipment has been used in the incident and which needs to be knows that other vehicles are in attendance. replaced. It is the responsibility of the driver. This is a manual check; The first task is to get all the hydraulic cutting gear and generator. there is no link up to the dashboard. The portable lights are set up. If other emergency services were at The equipment is all tested and cleaned when back at the station. This the incident before the fire service then the OIC would get as much is done before the firefighters get cleaned themselves. information as he can about the incident. This is part of the OIC’s dynamic risk assessment of the area. In the modus system is information of each model of car. The type of information includes the location of the airbag and the safety resistant (pre tension of sheets) which are usually put in the pillar of the car. A diagram is given for each make and model. A print out is made and taken away.
Figure 12:Task Scenario4
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5.1.5 Scenario5–House Fire Persons Reported–NIFRS
Figure 13:Scenario5 House Fire Persons reported NIFRS
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firefighters in the front of the vehicle, one is driving. Breathing A 999 call has been received that a house is on fire and there are Apparatus sets may also be dawned. people possibly trapped inside. The 999 call is received in Lisburn The fire engine navigates to the house fire. There is a navigation Headquarters, in the control room. system in front, which can direct the fire engine to the house fire. It The message is relayed to the fire station in Lisburn, being the does not take roadwork’s into account and also the maps are currently closest fire station that is available. The fire alarms go in the station, outdated. There is also the problem of height of bridges, think of the bleeps and lights go on and every room in the station has a board, ladders! Often the fire crew has better local knowledge than navigation which in this instance will read 1 and 2. Other types of instance systems. Contrary to public opinion, traffic lights are not set to change would say 2,6 meaning the CSU are required. colour as fire engine approaches. The driver is allowed to treat a red The firefighters make their way to the engine the fastest way light as a give way sign. possible. This may be down the firefighters’ pole. There is haste and At this stage there are no details about the fire. The caller may not be an air of urgency in the atmosphere. Nothing (absolutely nothing) on the phone with the control rooms. Control should have taken all the will delay their exit in this case (people trapped). The details while on the phone. Control continues talking to the person on professionalism needs to be seen to be believed. the phone if they were trapped in the house. The driver (or Officer in Charge, OIC) collects the print out of the The government only allows the fire and rescue service, five minutes to call details. It has been sent to a small opening beside the fire get to a fire call within a city. The second fire engine has eight minutes engine. The print out gives the location of the house fire and other to turn out. information. See Appendix for the print out for this scenario. The On arriving at the incident scene, the OIC does a dynamic risk print out has known not to arrive eg.the paper has run out. assessment. This is based on experience and local knowledge picked up Normally five emergency crew are found on board a fire engine. at the scene. The neighbours have reported that there is a child of six And twelve firefighters are required to be in attendance for persons years sleeping in the bedroom upstairs. The dynamic risk assessment reported type of fire. Hence in the print out, there are three fire only takes a few seconds and is mostly done through experience. The engines going to the scene. information most sought after is: The five firefighters constitute a watch. They work together during a Are there people inside or not? shift. There are two shifts in 24 hour period with changeovers The appearance of thick black smoke in the window may indicate happening at 09:00, 18:00 meaning a day shift has nine hours and a backdraft or flashover situation. night shift has 15 hours. Are the door locked or not? Once the complete crew is on board, which takes only takes a matter On entering the building, the method to decide if the building is too hot of seconds, the firefighters begin to dress in the gear. There are two
Figure 14:Task Scenario5a
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or not is not very high tech. The firefighter rolls back the gloves Firefighter Two’s BA set whistles meaning that his air is running short until some bare skin is in contact with the air. If his skin burns then and he has ten minutes to get out. He signals FF One by touch. it is hot. There is no means of communication between firefighters. The harder a The firefighters enter the building with a fire hose. Two men are firefighter works, the quicker the oxygen is used. It is linked to a sent to look for the child while the other sets of firefighters put out control panel outside located in the fire engine on the telemetry set. the fire while carrying out fire and rescue operation. Therefore the OIC knows the situation. At the top of the stairs, Firefighter One peels back part of his gloves Upon finding no child, the same procedure follows for the next room. and tests the door with the back of his hand. He feels it is extremely Meanwhile the other firefighting crew found the child downstairs. They hot and knows if he was to open the door a flashover (See Glossary) shout to each other indicating the child has been found. may occur. A flashover is one of the most feared phenomena by The OIC decides that all firefighters should vacate the building. He firefighters. Currently there is no technology to detect this sends a signal from the telemetry set to each firefighter to come out at phenomenon. Before he enters the room, he takes the hose, kneels once. The firefighters hear a noise (one bleep) and see a visual sign down, and opens the door using the door as a shield while his BA (man running). It can be missed if the environment is noisy. partner gives 2 quick bursts of high pressure while pointing the hose The fire is extinguished, equipment returned to the fire engine and at the ceiling. This highly reduces the risk of flashover. returned back to the station. Daily, Weekly and Monthly checks will The search continues in the smoke filled bedroom for the child. The ensures that equipment is functioning correctly. procedure is to start behind the door and feel around each of the four The paper works begins after this. A fire report is written up by hand walls in the room followed by walking across the diagonals of the and typed into the computer at headquarters. room. Finally feeling above and below any objects like a bed or wardrobe. It is like shutting your eyes and trying to walk around a building. The firefighter is relying on his sense of touch and hearing. Sometimes a radio is blurring in one ear. All other senses are masked.
Figure 15:Task Scenario5b Page 68 of 171
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5.1.6 Scenario6-Bombs on Premise-NIFRS
Figure 16:Scenario6 Bombs on Premise NIFRS
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The firefighter showed how emergency work was particularly difficult This scenario took place some 15 years earlier when the troubles in and an emotional profession. It showed that only a particular type of Northern Ireland were at a high level. person could do this work. Some may call this a rescue personality, Robinson’s Bar had exploded with an incendiary device and two personalized by a high level of empathy, performance, dedication and firemen were sent into The Crown (a National Trust Pub next door commitment. to Robinson) onto the first floor to start putting out the fire. As the firemen were in the building further bombs exploded. Therefore the firefighters started to withdraw. They did this on hearing the bombs but they could have been commanded to leave the site by audio communication (telemetry) with the officer in charge. The fire was fought from outside the building until it was safe to return. The army decides it is safe or not to return. Mistakes have been made in the past. The firefighters entered the building to check what damage had been caused. They entered from the rear via the staircase onto the first floor lobby. Unfortunately the door had closed behind the two firefighters trapping them within the building. It was a self locking door. After carrying out investigations of the premises, they discovered that they were trapped in the room. The windows were barred. It is not standard to have mobile phones in the uniform but some firefighters do carry them. The quickest way is to call 999 call if the telephone numbers of your colleagues are unknown. There is no way to contact the fire engine. In this case, a torch was used to shine into the eyes of the firefighter on the turntable ladder. He then proceeded to inform the officer in charge of the trapped men and send BA team in to help with the escape. Figure 17:Task Scenario6
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5.1.7 Scenario7–Confined Space Rescue–NIFRS
Figure 18:Scenario7 Confined Space Rescue NIFRS
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On arrival, they are brief and the specialist team enters the confined Two customs men were searching for drugs on a ship in the docks. space. They reach the opening were the casualty is, after a very They got trapped in a small confined space with no way out. The difficult and arduous journey. This takes over half hour. only people with equipment and manpower to rescue them are the On checking the first casualty, he is barely breathing. They send a radio Fire and Rescue Service. At 14:00, just after lunch, the station gets a message back asking for the specialist stretcher, so they can strap him call to the docks. and haul him out along the propeller shaft. On looking at the print out they find that one rescue pump, TSV and On getting the first casualty out, they find that he has stopped ET are mobilized and there are persons trapped. breathing. After various attempts at resuscitation, it was not successful On arriving at the call, they find out that a custom’s man has got and the casualty died. trapped down a small void along a propeller shaft, He was searching A robot could have taken down air (via a hose) or communication the ships for drugs. down the shaft (video or audio). All firefighters are trained to do small The OIC does a DRA. And asks for volunteers to go down into the confined rescue. confined space. At this stage, a robotic camera would have been useful at this stage but that equipment is not available. Two of the smallest people on the watch dawn BA sets and set down the shaft with lines attached to them. They are told by the OIC to look and report back if possible to find out the state of the casualties. The BA set is pushed in front of the firefighter rather than on his back with the mask fitted on his face. This takes 40 minutes. They manage to make contact with the casualties. They find out the casualty is unconscious but have no way of confining whether either is alive or dead. The OIC send for the specialist rescue team (USART) which are specially trained in this situation. They arrive shortly afterwards as a senior officer has already mobilized them.
Figure 19:Task Scenario7
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5.1.8 Scenario8–High Rise Building-NIFRS
Figure 20:Scenario8 High Rise Building NIFRS
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A 999 call has been received that there is a fire in 13B Rathmore On arrival at that floor, the hose is plugged into the dry rise which by House with people trapped. The bleeps go in the fire station. 1 and 2 this time is charged and the hose is taken up to the fire floor. are displayed on the control board. The firefighters run to the fire The BA team dawn their masks in fresh air two floors below where the engine, the OIC picks up the print out. On looking at the print out he ECO sets up his board. As they reach the fire floor, they find the sees there are another two pumps coming from another station, the corridor full of smoke. They can not see through the smoke as it is not turntable ladder and a rescue tender coming from another fire procedure to take in a thermal imaging camera. Their goal is to search station. for people at this stage in the flat. Their secondary goal is to firefight. No information is passed from the time that they left the station until By this time, there should be more BA teams and equipment making they arrive. The OIC knows that this is a high rise flat because he is their way to the staging point, two floors below. familiar with the address. On arrival of further appliances and officers, there will be various Once aboard they move off. On arrival at the building the OIC lobby and staging floors before the fire floor. Also, there will be search arrives at the same time as the other appliances from the other teams with firefighting equipment dispatched via the stairways, which stations. The turntable ladder is still on its way. are fire protected to the floors above. The OIC is making a dynamic risk assessment from the moment he The communication between the firefighters is a hand held radio has arrived. They see flames coming out of the thirteenth floor. They system on the new tetra system, which can be, subdivided into various see people evacuating the building at the front and at the rear. They channels eg BA communication, water control and staging post. are exiting the fire escape. There is no metering of who or how When the aerial appliance arrives it is set up as a secondary means of many have exited so far. escape as well as for firefighting. And a dedicated pumping appliance One pump sets into the dry riser and a water supply from the is assigned to supply the aerial appliance with water from a separate hydrants is run into the appliance. The hydrant has a big yellow sign main so as not to overrun the supply. on it to make it obvious. The firefighters may have experience of the On searching the flat, the BA team find one casualty still in bed. They region. Also they will have done practice exercises on any high rise are rescued and taken to fresh air while the other BA teams continue buildings. There are hydrants everywhere but it is a matter of firefighting and searching the rest of the flat. On checking the rest of finding them. The information is available electronically in the CSU the floors, the OIC is informed that the building is clear and all people and one trial appliance. are accounted for. The OIC with BA team and a few extra men carry fire equipment to There was no way of contacting anyone in the building during the two floors below the fire floor. They can use lifts. The fireman operation even though technology is there to broadcast an SMS to any switch is used i.e. the lift can only be operated from inside by a mobiles that are available within the building. fireman.
Figure 21:Task Scenario8a Page 75 of 171
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Typically the command could be to tell people there is a fire on Floor 13 and which escape route they should be using. Sometimes even the instruction is to stay put. There is no means of saying whether a building is empty or not. It is either by a resident telling the emergency services that they believe someone is still in the building or by visibility wrapping on doors. This is not very safe as there may be people who are hard of hearing. The fire service has no way of knowing how many elderly or disabled people are in the building. Registration of this information is not yet available. The ambulance service and police are automatically called to such an incident and are in attendance. If a resident is concerned for the whereabouts of a victim then there is no way of telling where an ambulance has taken the victim. There is no concept of setting up a victim support group so early in an incident.
Figure 22:Task Scenario8b
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5.1.9 Scenario9–Fuel Laundry Plant–Joint Operations
Figure 23:Scenario9 Fuel Laundry Plant Joint Operation
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A 999 call has been received that there is a hayshed on fire on the The OIC starts to get the crew to start pulling off the metal cladding on border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. There the barn. And on further investigation on the other two attached barns, is a discrepancy as to which country the fire belongs to. Therefore he finds a large tanker and large tanks in the other two barns. On the fire service from the Irish Republic is also being dispatched. further investigation, he finds a lorry and two large tanks containing fuel. He deduces it is a fuel laundering plant. Beeps go in the fire station and 1, 2 are displayed on the board indicating a two pump call. On lifting the print out, the OIC notices If thermal imaging camera had been used before entering the incident it is a hayshed and knows that it is going to be a prolonged incident. area then perhaps this could have been detected. On the way to the call the OIC is making a dynamic risk assessment. He is wondering where the incident is and what are the facilities he On finding out this information he evacuates the area leaving a ground has at the incident. In the country water is a problem. And he also monitor on the fire. He gives the evacuation command through Tetra needs a large tractor with forks to clear the hay. for the Northern Ireland fire service but he must tell the Irish Fire Service by word of mouth. The only means of communication between If there had been a map of the region easily available then the OIC the services of the two countries is through word of mouth or through could have seen if there was a lake or small pond available for the two control rooms. This is the case for even house fires across the water. Other sources for water are slurry tanks or large tanks of border say in Co. Donegal. water on the farm. The OIC does not have this knowledge until arrival and speaking to the occupants of the farm. The OIC also advises the control room to contact the Irish Republic control centre of the problem. He also informs control to make pump 6; On arrival, the farmer who tells him that the back hayshed has foam tenders 1 and water tankers 1. caught fire meets him but the farmer is very reluctant to help the fire service clear the hay as they put it out. As the only way to put a fire On controls getting this information and the incident being so big the out in a hayshed is to clear the stock out of the shed with the fire CSU is dispatched to take over command and support. As the incident service dampening down as each bail comes out. protracts the ground monitors have successfully done their job and isolated the fire from the other two barns. Therefore after the dynamic On further investigation he notices in the hayshed that the fire is risk assessment, the firefighters are sent in to deal with the rest of the well advanced. Therefore he makes the decision that he needs more fire with covering jets and ground monitors and foam jets covering the appliances. He makes pump 3 for water purposes. In case water has other two building where the fuel is stored. to be relayed to the incident.
Figure 24:Task Scenario9 Page 79 of 171
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5.2 Task Categorization
The results of categorizing the tasks presented in the previous section are identified here. The equipment used today and on the road map in the short term future that employ computing technology is placed in their respective category(s). Only the equipment used on the front line to assist the emergency crew reach their goal has been identified.
It is this categorization that is the starting point of the answer to the research question being asked.
While collecting and analysing the data from the previous section (5.1, Task
Analysis), the use of computing technology was identified. The data collection from the interviews with IT staff of NIFRS and NIAS supplemented the information by including that equipment that was on the future road map.
The results were validated during the follow up interviews with IT staff (3.6, Testing the Results). The results gain an understanding of the current computing technology usage which as necessary to answer the research question.
Pictures of the equipment are found in (AppendixF, Example Equipment).
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Figure 25:Task Categorization to show current use of computing technology in the emergency services in Northern Ireland
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5.2.1 Dräger (Telemetry)
The DrägerMan PSS® Merlin® Telemetry System package enhances and supports firefighters using breathing apparatus. A remote two way digital data and alert status communication between the wearer of the self contained respiratory protection apparatus and an external support control module is provided.
Since communication between the firefighter and the control module can be hampered due to a breakdown in the transmission signal through long distance, building construction, below grounds etc. a DrägerMan repeater is provided which enhances the signal effectiveness in harsh environments.
TOW Entry Portable Unit worn by Pressure Control a Firefighter with BA Temperature Board apparatus Time Elapsed (ECB) Panic Signals Operated Distress by the Signals Entry Control Portable Unit worn by Officer Evacuation a Firefighter with BA (ECO) Signals apparatus
Figure 26:Telemetry System
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 The ECB is a battery powered unit incorporating a radio transmitter and receiver. It has slots for the encoded tally of 12 firefighters. Inserting the tally into one slot activates the transmission link monitoring capabilities. The tally identifies the firefighter. There is a facility to download the Event Log in a case of an inquiry e.g. a firefighter has been injured. This is performed offline.
The information that the ECB can send to the portable unit is:
• Evacuation Signal. The bodyguard will emit a repeating ‘Beep alarm’ and the
running man icon will appear in the display. The firefighter must press a
button to acknowledge receipt of the signal.
• Evacuation Signal All
• Voluntary Withdrawal Signal
• Distress Signal – Motion Sensor. If movement is not detected for 23 seconds,
then this signal is sent.
• Distress Signal – Panic Button.
5.2.2 Modus System
The Modus 6 System (See AppendixF, Example Equipment) is a computer system fitted at the front of the fire engine. The system means that A to Z’s, cumbersome files full of incomplete risk data and torn building plans are a thing of the past. The crews are able to access electronic map of where they are going. The system may be
6 Motorola ProCad, Vehicle Mounted System
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If the tracking is turned on then a fire engine icon is located on the map showing the location of the fire engine.
Currently the electronic maps are often out of date and the system is only available on a number of fire engines in Northern Ireland. The information is static and no real time updates are provided. There is no indication of current roadwork, flooding, road closure, traffic jams or obstacles such as low bridges.
5.2.3 TetraSystem
Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) is an open digital standard defined by the
European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI).
The emergency services were going through an adoption of the Tetra digital radio system (October 2006) when this project was being carried out. This replaces the old analogue walkie talkies, which have been in operation for decades. The police service has been using the system for a small number of years now.
The state of the fire engine (mobile, in attendance, mobile to station etc.) in the near future will be transported back to the control room by the pressing of buttons on the tetra handset.
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The thermal imaging cameras are available on specialist fire engines (TSV), Rescue
Pump and in the CSU. They are not found on the average fire engine appliance.
The camera is rather large in size with a screen in the middle that is about four inches in square. There are two large grips handles on the side, see (AppendixF, Example
Equipment).
Another use for the camera is to ensure that the fire has not spread to a hidden area, an area that is inaccessible or a fire that is just waiting to rekindle. The thermal imaging camera allows firefighters to locate hot spots in a wall or duct where a fire can hide.
The camera allows firefighters to minimize damage at the incident, prevent rekindling of fires, which are costly and often prevent the investigation of determining the fire origin.
5.2.5 CCTV
CCTVs are located within the ambulance and can be activated by the driver to see in the back of the ambulance.
5.2.6 Mobile Phones
Mobile Phones are not part of the standard equipment. Some mobile phones have been issued to crew but there is fear from the unions on the safety of their use. There are no special adaptations for the phones and the newer Tetra Systems will prove mobile phones superfluous. Page 85 of 171
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It is possible to convert the Tetra into a mobile phone. A SIM card is entered into the equipment. Internal calls e.g. using numbers like 106242 can be used between tetra systems.
5.2.7 Command and Support Unit
The CSU is a vehicle that supports the firefighters and commanders at larger incident scenes. It is a hub for all communication within an incident and back to headquarters.
The equipment mentioned above is also available in this unit.
5.2.7.1 Laptops and Computers There are laptops and computers on board. Often they have specialist software for emergency services. As a minimum each CSU has the same data and software as the
Modus system e.g. street maps. There is also a facility to locate hydrants.
5.2.7.2 Overhead Projectors, Interactive Screens, Plasma Screens There is overhead projectors, interactive white boards, plasma screens etc. Images can be projected back to head quarters where senior officers can be informed of the incidents. An aerial is located on the roof of the CSU to allow the data to be transmitted back.
5.2.7.3 Satellite Communication Outside the CSU there is a satellite dish on the roof.
5.2.7.4 Portable Digital Camera A portable digital camera is available in each CSU. This is used to record how a fire is progressing. The pictures can be sent back to headquarters. The pictures can later be used for investigation reports.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.3 Filling the Gaps with Computing Technology
The results in this section extend the categorization above to show the tasks, which lack computing technology to achieve their goals. Cross reference is made back to
5.1, Task Analysis and Chapter 2, Literature Review. The attempt to fill the gap with computing technology is made here.
The gaps had been discussed during the interviews with the emergency crews and the
IT staff. Potential computing technology to fill the gaps was obtained by reading literature as described in (3.2, Commerce/industry data analysis – Document Studies).
Obtaining the list from multiple sources ensured validity of the results.
The filling of the gaps was discussed during follow up interviews with IT staff and with the focus group. These results answer the research question.
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Figure 27:Task Categorization
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5.3.1 Tracking and Locating
Tasks that involve tracking and locating concern the emergency vehicles, emergency crew, victims, equipment, useable goods etc. Tracking devices typically makes the combined use of geographic map information of the area along with the live position data from GPS systems. The performance of GPS is seriously hampered indoors.
Radio (RFID) and ultrasonic technology are other forms of tracking technology more suited to indoors.
5.1.5, Scenario5–House Fire Persons Reported–NIFRS made reference to the navigation system was used to find the location of the victim. 5.1.3, Scenario3
Firefighters Trapped NIFRS showed the importance of knowing where a firefighter was at the incident scene.
5.3.1.1 Emergency Crew
The location of emergency crew is important when at an incident. If the emergency crew finds themselves in danger then a rescue team can be sent to the exact area of building for assistance (5.1.6, Scenario6 Bombs on Premise NIFRS).
On larger operations it is necessary for the Officer in Charge to ensure that the complete area is being covered (5.1.8, Scenario8–High Rise Building NIFRS).
Emergency Crews work in pairs and knowing the location of other pairs is useful in the sharing of information. Multi dimensional individual location systems are necessary to locate emergency crew on specific floors.
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Tetra hand held devices will be able to give the location of the emergency crew through the use of GPS technology when outside or in large open areas. Locating inside a building is recognized as more difficult, although breakthrough in using ultrasonic technology is nearby, as described in (2.3.6, Navigation Technology).
Projecting the location of emergency crew, and marrying it with a building plan, onto the visor of the helmet would enable a firefighter to know where he or his colleagues are within the building. Otherwise, the location could be relayed to the emergency vehicle (Modus) or back to the control room.
Firefighters often get disoriented (5.1.5, Scenario5–House Fire Persons Reported–
NIFRS) and a homing device may be useful, as is used in blind technology to help navigate from a building to the exit (2.3.6, Navigation Technology).
Research under consideration (Project MESA, n. d.) suggests using a combination of technologies e.g. Wearable GPS system (2.3.1, Wearable Technology). Emergency crew suggested the inside lining of the uniform would be better for a removable tracking device (for cleaning and changing uniform between types of incidents).
Shoes are abused and heat up quickly. Helmets are knocked off and are not always used. The concept of IP firefighter was perceived which was further researched by
Zahid et al. (2004).
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.3.1.2 Emergency Vehicle
Many of the scenarios in 5.1, Task Analysis indicate the need to locate the nearest vehicle rather than a vehicle from the nearest station. Technology for dispatch was investigated in McCarthy et al. (1997). The use of GPS systems for tracking is widely used in other walks of life e.g. vehicle tracking systems. Likewise, many scenarios indicate the need to navigate the vehicle to an incident taking into account real time information like roadworks, flooding, congestion, and accidents as well as low bridges and up to date maps. The location of a vehicle helps recover stolen vehicles
(1.2.2, Northern Ireland). Finally recording the time and location at the incident assists in auto fill of logs.
The advances to Europe’s Galileo sat nav project shall transform applications using satellite navigation. The network of thirty Galileo satellites should be fully operational in 2010.
5.3.1.3 Victim
There is limited way to locate victims (untagged) within a building. The numerous papers on robots to locate victims show the need for technology in this area e.g.
(Casper, 2002). If the victim has a mobile phone and the number is known and is not damaged in the emergency incident then help may be possible but not from the emergency crew on the ground.
The caller to 999 services can also be located in some circumstances from their mobile phone if integrated with the Global Positioning System. A GPS phone can be
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 tracked to within a few meters, the other phones to within about 500 meters.
Unfortunately GPS is of no use in a building (Harter et al., 1999).
The location of a car can also be relayed back the emergency services with the use of wireless communication, GPS and sensor applications. These are deemed as
“intelligent cars”. The introduction by 2009 of an eCall system installed in vehicles is to use satellite technology to alert the nearest emergency services to the exact location of a vehicle. The SMS contains the car registration and GPS location of the vehicle and could include e.g.
• Telephone number of the vehicle
• With seat sensors, the number of passengers (and their weight to determine if
adult or children) in the car.
• Some information about the type of incident that has occurred e.g. due to the
airbags that ejected or further sensors on the car being activated.
• Video or Pictures of the scene of the incident. This may also be useful if the
vehicle was carrying HAZMAT (Hazardous material).
• Any other information required for the control centre to dispatch a rescue
crew.
Road deaths are something that needs to be addressed in Northern Ireland, especially among young people (1.2.2, Northern Ireland).
5.3.1.4 Equipment
During the scenario 5.1.4, Scenario4 Car Crash–NIFRS the paper based inventory presented in Figure 36: Example of Inventory of Fire Engine Pockets(Page1) was
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 manually performed which was time consuming and error prone. This was important to detect if equipment was left behind at an incident, stolen, to store the history
(electronically) of its usage or for maintenance purposes. Just as the seat belt sign illuminates on most cars when the car drives off, so it is envisaged that a sign illuminates if a piece of equipment is left behind at the scene of an incident.
5.3.1.5 Useable Goods
5.1.1, Scenario1 Chest Pain–NIAS showed a manual stock control system. There is a need for automating stock control as is currently done in supermarkets. A bar code reader being used to register that an item is being used or added to stock.
5.3.2 Mobile Data
Mobile Data concerns the capability to have data at the front line. Basically data is sent to a device on the front line like 5.2.2, Modus System, laptop, mobile phone, audio device or visor of a helmet. Also data is sent from a device on the front line to be used to control the incident like a camera, sound device or entering text on a PDA.
Obviously wireless communication is a prerequisite for such equipment.
The time used from leaving the station until arriving at the incident has no real use
(5.1.1, Scenario1 Chest Pain–NIAS). While the emergency vehicles are already on their way all information about the building like evacuation plans, building plans, patient details, medical history etc. could be uploaded from a central database and transmitted automatically to the vehicle. The OIC could inquire further digital information from secondary services simultaneously e.g. mobile phones of the 999 caller.
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The accessibility of the data should not stop at the emergency vehicle but at the emergency crew with technology going beyond the screen and keyboard as input and output devices including (2.3.5, Spoken Dialogue Technology and 2.3.1, Wearable
Technology).
It is envisaged that the uniform of the emergency crew may also serve as an antenna for high data rate radios and feeds data to a Darth Vader like helmet, which projects onto the inside of the helmet such images as the mobile data described below and provides 360 degree vision.
The principle seen in all scenarios is to have the right information at the right time in the right place, also identified as key to current research (2.2, Environment
Information).
5.3.2.1 Data about the Vehicle The location of all airbags and seat restraints is important when cutting people out of a car as shown in 5.1.4, Scenario4 Car Crash–NIFRS. Currently these exist in paper format in the front of emergency vehicles.
One never imagines that an emergency vehicle breaks down. Technology is available to download vehicle information to a diagnostic centre for interpretation by a mechanic. Simple repair instructions could be sent to the driver or recovery vehicle.
This is significantly more efficient than towing the vehicle back to the manufactures and declaring the vehicle off the run.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.3.2.2 Data about Building Data about buildings and their content are often missing or inaccessible. The information could be stored centrally or on a type of “black box” located on the wall of a building or gatepost of a farm or factory. Typical information stored would be the number of occupants of a building. This could be detailed to the floor level.
Evacuation plans exist for most building e.g. a museum indicates which artefacts should be saved first. Floor plans are useful for larger building indicating the position of significant objects e.g. dangerous material stored in buildings and tunnels.
Most of this information exists only on paper and not at the front line. It is difficult to keep these plans up to date.
5.1.7, Scenario7–Confined Space Rescue– would have had a different outcome if plans of the ship had been available at hand.
5.3.2.3 Data about the Victim A quick and correct identification of the victim and his injuries is not always possible.
Identification may be made if the patient is conscious or from a third party. An alternative to making a “real” identity is to use a temporary identification e.g. 40 year old man, brown hair, white, leg injury.
At the scene of a larger incident e.g. a disaster then registration is useful for pre warning hospitals of specific victims and notification to next of kin. Various methods are used for identification namely the national video identification database, national fingerprint database and more lately a palm print database.
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Identifying the injuries and then relaying this information back to the hospital is currently not done. Tele medicine technology is commonly applied in outback of
Canada, Scotland and Scandinavia (2.1.2, Ambulance Service). ECG reader output, defibrillator output, blood pressure apparatus output and other medical apparatus output could be sent using this technology back to the hospital.
There is now an ability to have sensor woven clothes that assess a wound on a patient.
CCTV images could be relayed from the back of an ambulance to prepare the hospital for the patient arrival.
5.3.2.4 Data about the incident Details about the incident scene are always helpful. The computer systems fitted into fire engines mean that A to Z’s will be a thing of the past. The system can also provide information on how many times crews have attended incidents in a particular area, and whether there have been any civil disturbances or attacks on crews.
Information like the location of the nearest hydrant would be useful.
5.3.2.5 Instructions for handling procedures Instructions for handling procedures, if in a convenient and non intrusive form, are useful for the less expensive firefighters and ambulance crew or in a situation, which does not arise that often, or in a situation where the instructions have changed.
Much of the data is available in the front of the vehicle on lamented paper. Such examples are seen in Figure 38: Example of Aid Memoir(Front).
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.3.2.6 Data about Hazardous Chemicals Instructions on hazardous chemicals are useful, if in a convenient and non intrusive form. How the chemicals should be handled and what each symbol means is useful.
Again this data is stored in memories (lamented cards) which may be more suited to be available electronically on the visor of a helmet.
5.3.2.7 Security of Mobile Data The question of privacy is a serious one when it comes to any form of wireless communication and more so for the emergency services, as indicated during IT interviews (4.1.2, Interviewing IT Staff). The idea of making the location of people and vehicles traceable by unauthorized third parties can clearly be regarded as undesirable. A major concern of mobile data is keeping it up to date and ensuring it is secure. Privacy issues were discussed in Hong and Landay (2004).
Accessing systems within the emergency vehicles e.g. laptops, navigation system currently are done by username and password or without security at all. The emergency crew have to remember the username/password combination, which is not always easy. This has the consequence that they are not changed regularly or is simple combinations for all to remember. The username/password is shared by numerous firefighters. Technology has moved on and the benefit of biometrics would be tremendous for accessing systems.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.3.3 Sensor Applications
During the interview with IT staff, it became apparent that the uniforms offered are becoming so good that the senses are dulled to the point of danger at the front line
(4.1.2, Interviewing IT Staff).
Suggestions are given to technology that can be used to improve sight (through smoke and in buildings and rumble), sound (during rescue operation), smell (for hazardous gases) and touch (heat). Typically these sensors would find place on the uniform as indicated in much of the literature mentioned in Chapter 2, Literature Review (Haniff and Baber, 1999).
Sensor Applications use telemetry, which is the remote measurement or the remote collection of data, which can be physical, environmental or biological. Telemetry is typically used to gather data from distant, inaccessible locations, or when data collection would be dangerous or difficult for a variety of reasons.
5.3.3.1 Environment Temperature
Apparatus to measure temperature (outside temperature) is missing from the firefighter’s uniform (Haniff and Baber, 1999). That is the temperature of the surrounding environment, the temperature behind a door or the temperature of water that the victim is in.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 This helps detect backdraft and flashovers (Barrero et al., 2004). In 5.1.3, Scenario5–
House Fire Persons Reported–NIFRS, the firefighter had to roll back his glove to determine the heat of the adjacent room. Likewise detection of hazardous gases was through smell rather than sensor technology.
Hazardous Chemicals
Apparatus is missing to detect hazardous chemicals, especially chemicals that are not labelled correctly (5.1.9, Scenario9–Fuel Laundry Plant–Joint Operations). The ability to analyse a chemical quickly is missing for the equipment that emergency crew carry.
Hazardous Gases
Apparatus is missing to detect hazardous gases that can not be smelt. Buttons built into uniforms, which change colour or give out some other indicator, could be used to detect some common known gases.
Thermal Imaging
Thermal Imaging technology is used sparingly in the NIFRS. Thermal Imaging provides the firefighters with the ability to see through smoke and provide visibility inside walls by detecting changes in temperature (Koumpis et al., 2006).
Before having access to a thermal image camera, an incident commander would have to send in multiple firefighters to search a building for remaining people. Finding a fire inside a wall required the firefighter to put his hand against the wall to feel heat.
Such technology is also useful for simpler fires e.g. chimney fires. Instead of tearing up the whole wall, only one spot needs to be opened up.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.1.5, Scenario5–House Fire Persons Reported–NIFRS indicated how “seeing” the people through smoke was necessary to perform the task. Thermal Imaging cameras could have helped in 5.1.9, Scenario9–Fuel Laundry Plant–Joint Operations to detect the hidden barrels of fuel. Thermal Imaging allows Hazmat (HAZardous MATerial) team to determine level of liquid in a tank.
The emergency services interview (4.1.1, Interviewing Emergency Crews) indicated that the visor of the helmet was more suitable output device than the currently used heavy camera.
Weather
There is no equipment to give the real time weather situation. Required in 5.1.2,
Scenario2 Car Crash NIAS. This could simply be made available with Internet access.
5.3.3.2 Physical There is a number of missing applications to monitor and record the physical attributes of the victim or the emergency crew.
Victim
Within the ambulance service, the physical condition of the victim could be examined using ECG, blood pressure monitors, thermometers etc. and the data relayed to the hospital (Hashmi et al., 2005). 5.1.2, Scenario2 Car Crash NIAS showed the importance of having portable medical equipment to measure heart rate, pulse etc at the incident scene.
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The remote health care technology that is available for attending patients who live on remote islands in Ireland (or places like Canada) can lend to filling the gap in this task
(Martin et al., 2000). This has been branded telemedicine. Technology has evolved that the patient no longer needs to be physically present for care to be provided.
Emergency Crew
The ability to monitor the health of an emergency crew is missing (Haniff and Baber,
1999). The heart rate, pulse, breathing frequency of emergency crews is not monitored while at the scene of a crime. The core body temperature of emergency crew could be measured and sent back to a central control. The body temperature is important according to IT staff (4.1.2, Interviewing IT Staff), as once it creeps above a certain temperature then it is proven that a firefighter becomes irrational and can not make even simple decisions e.g. how to exit a room. Although mentioned here, emergency crew indicated during the interviews (4.1.1, Interviewing Emergency
Crews) that they would not retreat based on this information as they have a sense of responsibility to their victim.
5.3.3.3 Motion Traffic Lights
Apparatus employing motion sensors could be used to control traffic by changing traffic lights when emergency vehicles are approaching.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Evacuation Routing
There is no equipment to determine the evacuation route that people are using to escape from a building based on data from motion sensors.
Condition of Building
Apparatus that detect movement in walls or identify weak spots in the building structures could be employed to decide if a building was about to collapse.
Status of Incident
Apparatus that detect backdraft by employing thermal imaging technology could be employed.
It was reported in the scenario’s that the emergency crew arrived blindfolded at an incident. The status of the incident could be recorded by the 999 caller (or emergency crew arriving earlier) on a mobile phone with a video recorder and relayed to the control room and onto an emergency vehicle or control unit at the incident site.
5.3.4 Information Collection
Information is important during the incident to make decisions as well as afterwards for form filling. During the incident, the status is consistently being accessed through
Dynamic Risk Assessment as seen in (5.1, Task Analysis).
5.3.4.1 Forms Filling At any of the interviews or document studies (4.1, Process and Data Sources) it became apparent that there are a lot of forms to be filled in after an incident. Some
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 example forms are given in the appendix (AppendixC, Example Forms) e.g. patient report forms and fire description report forms. Each scenario ended with filling in forms at the end of an incident.
There is a large gap of missing equipment in the support of incident reporting. Often data is typed up or hand written after the incident, once back at the fire station or ambulance station/hospital. Seldom is data collected real time together with photographic or audio recorded evidence. This was not a favourite task of any of the emergency crew, was time consuming and error prone.
There was little technology to help with auto filling in this form. A paperless office was far from normality. Information Collection devices are applications that collects data without having to go back to a computer and re enter the data. Typically these would be video camera or other recording devices. Address information, of incident or hospital attended, could readily be available from navigation systems for auto fill purposes.
5.3.4.2 Mobile Data Emergency crew could be collecting or verifying building data as they walk through the corridors of a building during routine inspections.
It is envisaged that a uniform could be developed as a networked computer that not only protects the emergency crew from his working environment but also provide a constant stream of information through conductive fibres woven into the uniform’s material.
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Mobile Phones could be used to record the incident scene to relay the information back to the hospital team. It may appear that on first sight the victim has no injuries but the experience of the paramedic indicates that the patient should be considerably worse. Therefore any video coverage of the scene may be useful for the hospital team.
There is no means of transferring these images to the hospital or recording the images on the patient report form.
5.3.4.3 Stock Inventory There is no logistics data stored for useable goods in ambulance or fire vehicle. Stock
Control takes up considerable time for the ambulance service while a simple bar code reader would suffice to record stocks being used.
5.3.5 Security
This category of security was virtually empty when looking at existing equipment though there is much literature on the violence suffered by emergency crews (2.1,
Public Services). There is little technology used to improve security of staff or equipment.
5.3.5.1 Lock on Emergency Vehicles Rather than use keys, as is the normal practice, especially with ambulance, biometric technology could be used.
Biometric technology uses computerized methods to identify a person by their unique physical or behavioural characteristics. The use of fingerprints is a possibility but
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 using an iris would be more suitable as removing gloves (surgical or firefighter’s). It is imperative that the system can be overridden with the use of keys or central locking system device.
5.3.5.2 CCTV The use of CCTV is currently limited to NIAS and is more for the means of allowing the driver to see what is happening from the front of the vehicle (5.1.1, Scenario1
Chest Pain–NIAS). CCTV on the roof, as is seen in other emergency services would improve the safety of the emergency crew. There is disregard for the emergency services as reported in (1.2.2, Northern Ireland).
5.3.6 Communication
On first sight, there appears to be a lot of technology in this section. This category was identified in the results 5.2, Task Categorization as being very advanced. The
Command and Support Unit comprises of a considerable amount of communication technology. The introduction of Tetra in October 2006 in both NIFRS and NIAS was a large improvement in the task of communication.
What remains is to achieve the goal of seamless communication across emergency services and other organizations. The joint operation task described in (5.1.9,
Scenario9–Fuel Laundry Plant–Joint Operations) showed how current communication across organizations deemed useless. Today, the gathering of information is not shared between emergency services at the incident except by word of mouth.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Finally there is a great deal of manual paper correspondence preferred over electronic data processing resulting in costly delays. All scenarios showed the importance of communication at the incident site and back to control room.
5.3.6.1 To Emergency Vehicle
Communication with the emergency vehicle is mainly to do with location. There are other reasons for instance incident information, sending or receiving mobile data and transmitting information collected.
5.3.6.2 To Personnel
Whereas communication between an emergency crew is possible with Tetra, the idea of non obtrusive communication i.e. hands free is missing. Weiser (1994) in his research, ‘The world is not a desktop’, shows the importance of this.
Voice interaction to other teams could be done simultaneously via wireless helmet communication system. Optical impressions from the helmet camera can be displayed to guide critical operations directly.
The team could also share sensor data (e.g. temperature) and video images via wireless communication. If an area is highly polluted with toxic fumes, this information could be shared will all emergency crews.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.3.6.3 To Control
Communication of the status of the patient in the back of an ambulance is the most obvious example of where technology is missing (5.1.1Scenario1 Chest Pain–NIAS).
There is missing communication between the ambulance and the hospital team awaiting the patient, also highlighted in Hashmi et al. (2005). The status of the patient including video footage could be transported back in real time. This communication channel could be bi directional i.e. a doctor could be sending pictures of life saving procedures to the paramedic crew.
5.3.6.4 To Victim
Communication with the victims starts from when the 999 call is made. Currently, the control centre must ask the victim where they are calling from if it is a mobile phone
(the address associated with a landlines is known) or a VOIP phone (Voice over IP e.g. a broadband phone). The victim may not be able to speak due to their injuries or may not be able to give their whereabouts.
Communication back to the victim is currently only verbal whereas there may be a need to send visual information e.g. resuscitation procedure or heimlich® manoeuvre.
There are few facilities made for hard of hearing and few facilities made for translation. Currently if deaf person phones 999 their calls are automatically transferred to the police who have specially trained staff who takes details and then passes them on to the NIAS.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 With the rising number of foreigners in Northern Ireland, a web translator could be used to translate the messages into their language e.g. Polish, Czech. Currently if foreigner rings 999 and can not be understood then a firm called Language line is called to speak to the caller.
It was reported in (5.1.2, Scenario2 Car Crash NIAS) that when a car’s air bags open, an SMS is sent to the 999 control centre.
Similarly if a zoo animal had escaped, an escaped villain, known paedophile was in the vicinity or the environment should be evacuated due to a bomb, every mobile phone user could be notified by SMS.
5.3.6.5 To Other Emergency Services It was the well publicized report of July 7 th 2005 bombing in London that rescue teams were unable to communicate properly between the sites of the explosions underground, colleagues at ground level and control rooms. The Review Committee report said it was “unacceptable” that the emergency services still were not able to communicate by radio underground, 18 years after the official inquiry into a fire at
King’s cross station recommended action to address the problem. This was also report after hurricane Katrina and 9/11 disasters. The problem has been addressed in
Northern Ireland by the introduction (recently) of the Tetra system.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.3.7 Excluded technologies
There are a number of technologies that did not feature heavily in 5.3, Filling the
Gaps with Computing Technology) which did appear in the literature review and are mentioned here.
5.3.7.1 Robotics Technology
In the beginning of this project, I envisaged that robots would be used since they are stronger than humans, can navigate in poor visibility and are capable of withstanding severe conditions.
After interviews, I realized that no firefighter would leave a victim in a building, no matter how risky it was.
Therefore the use of robots is only seen in the searching of humans in large disasters and not in replacement or working beside emergency crews.
5.3.7.2 Decision-Making Programs
Throughout the research it became apparent that decisions made by the emergency crew were the “wrong ones”. In so far that it is not logical for a human to run into a burning building. Experience counts for a lot in the emergency services, which can not be gained with training or procedures alone. It was felt that decision making devices would not help and even hinder the emergency crew in meeting their goal.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.3.7.3 Battery Technology This technology was probably an omission but would be required in any further research, as this seems to be the limiting factor in all equipment. The replacement of batteries at the front line is impractical and power scavenging could be of great value
(Koumpis et al., 2006).
5.4 Summary of Results
As the tables show below there is many existing computing technologies that could be used to assist emergency services in Northern Ireland at the front line.
The table has been arranged according to whether the technology is more useful for saving lives or improving the efficiency of the emergency services. Saving lives refers to the lives of the victim or emergency crew. The efficiency of the tasks refers to making the job easier, quicker or in a less error prone fashion. Further decomposition is made by identifying the impact is minor or major.
Ten technologies have been identified which will have major impact on saving lives and eight technologies with minor impacts. Ten technologies have been identified which will have major impact on improving the efficiency of and eight technologies with minor impacts.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.4.1 Major Improvement to Saving Lives
Category of Technology Notes Task Tracking and Wearable GPS Suitable for locating emergency crews, outside and in Location wide areas. Should be integrated into Tetra system. Allows IP emergency crew concept. Suitable for understanding coverage of crew at incident area. Ultrasonic Suitable for locating emergency crews inside or within sensing fine grains positioning. Required to be 3D. Marrying location of emergency crew with say building plan unto visor of helmet. Thermal Placed on Visor of helmet to assist location of victims. Imaging GPS Integrated into mobile phone, clothing or vehicle of victim to detect location of victim. Victim May be through National Fingerprint, National Video Identification Id or National Palm Print Id databases. Used to determine identification of person. Useful to inform next of kin, registration in diaster or retrieve patient details. Mobile Data Content Required due to the large amount of mobile data that Management could be gathered and transmitted. E.g. location of air bags and restraints in cars, building plans, evacuation plans, hazardous chemical data, statistics on previous calls to location, nearest hydrant. Telemedicine Telemedicine refers to the use of communication and information technologies for the delivery of clinical care. Used to relay patient injury back to hospital. Used to send procedures to 999 caller’s mobile phone e.g. resuscitation procedure. As used in remote placed in the world Sensor Motion Sensors Used to detect movement in walls or weak spots in the Applications building structure. Communication Wireless Communication with the vehicle, between personnel, control and the victim helps share information that directly saves lives of emergency crew and victims. SMS With advent of intelligent cars this is a possible way to communication with victims at a road accident. Table 7: Summary of Results from Primary Data Source – Part 1
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.4.2 Technology causing Minor Improvement to Saving Lives
Category of Technology Notes Task Tracking and Blind (Homing Homing Device, or Navigation Systems for blind, to bring Location or Navigation) emergency crew out of an incident after becoming disorientated. Robotics Using cameras to locate victims during search scenarios mainly after diasters. Sensor Core Body To measure internal core body temperature of emergency Applications temperature crew. sensors Telemedicine To measure different physical aspects of the emergency crew. Motion Sensors To determine evacuation flow of people exiting a building mainly to assess number of people still trapped. Thermal To determine status of incident. Imaging Communication Deaf Used to help deaf and hard of hearing 999 callers and victims at the scene of the incident. Translation Translation services are readily available on Internet to help with 999 callers or victims who are foreigners. Table 8: Summary of Results from Primary Data Source – Part 2
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.4.3 Major Improvement to Efficiency of Emergency Services
Category of Technology Notes Task Tracking and GPS Used to track emergency vehicles and determine nearest one. Location Galileo satellites should be fully operational in 2010. Mobile Data Speech As another means for input and output devices making the applications invisible. Wearable Making full use of the emergency crew equipment and uniform especially the visor of the helmet, hence freeing up the hands for more important tasks. Sensor Telemetry Sensors on gloves to detect temperature of water or behind Application doors to reduce the threat of backdraft and flashover. Sensors to analyse chemicals to determine their identity. Wearable Buttons that change colour or give some signal when in contact with known hazardous gases. Thermal It is important that any application is non obtrusive and Imaging available to all emergency crew. Information Recording Used to record information for auto forms fill e.g. using an Collection devices, Auto audio recorder to record a witness statement which can fill Forms automatically be “attached“ to a form. GPS location can be recorded to auto fill the address of incident and address of hospital including times at these places. Bar Code Used in stock inventory, especially in NIAS for medical supplies. Security CCTV To improve safety of emergency crew. Communication Wireless Communication between personnel (wearable) at the scene of the incident and back to control will help improve the spread of information. Any communication between other emergency services should be seamless. Table 9: Summary of Results from Primary Data Source – Part 3
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 5.4.4 Minor Improvement to Efficiency of Emergency Services
Category of Technology Notes Task Tracking and Sensor A sign illuminates if equipment is missing. Location Bar Codes A means to identify each equipment (to record missing, stolen, history usage, maintenance). Also used in Stock inventory control of useable goods. Mobile Data Biometrics Used for security of vehicles and computing systems e.g. to replace usernames and passwords Encryption Transmitting mobile data must be secured. Sensor Internet Used to project the weather information onto the front line. Application Used in making decisions (e.g. forest fires). Motion Sensors To control traffic by changing traffic lights to the favour of emergency vehicles. Information Recording Used to gather more mobile data that is to be placed in a Collection Devices, central location for dissemination to the front line when Database and required e.g. building plans. Wearable Security Biometrics Used to unlock emergency vehicles.
Table 10: Summary of Results from Primary Data Source – Part 4
5.5 Validation
The validation of the results was done at each stage of data gathering, analysis and interpretation. After an interview was held, document studies were performed to validate the information given. Emails were used to backup any interpretation. There was one final follow up interview to validate the findings. Modifications were made to the findings as necessary. This follow up interview also guarded against any bias of the focus group.
A focus group was formed of members outside the NIFRS and NIAS. These people were closer to computing technology than the operations on the front line of
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 emergency services. This ensured the results were feasible in terms of computing technology that could not have been validated as effectively by the primary sources.
Using one company was easier logistically for the researcher. The particular company chosen was selected for their years of interest and expertize in the emergency services.
The members of the group were from the research department in the main company that supplies the emergency services in Northern Ireland with front line equipment.
This company is called Dräger and is situated in Newcastle Upon Tyne in England.
The head of the research department and the chief engineer for the breathing apparatus currently used (AppendixF, Example Equipment) were present during the three hour long discussion.
The results were made into a power point presentation and presented as in Chapter 5,
Results. After each category in 5.3, Filling the Gaps with Computing Technology discussions took place as to the validity of the findings. Some modifications were made to the findings, in particular in the section (5.3.1, Tracking and Locating). In general the opinion was that the results answered the research question well.
It was the focus group that commented on the novel way that analysis had been done.
Permission was sought by that company to use the task scenarios and sequence diagrams for their own department.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 This method of data analysis influenced the results obtained for the better. It ensured that a user centred approach was taken in answering the research question. Possibly results that could have been described as science fiction i.e. less down to earth results would have been obtained if another approach were used. This approach is recommended for any future work.
The final chapter is next which reviews the project and shows how these results contribute to the body of knowledge before suggesting how research can be furthered.
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Chapter 6 Conclusions
In concluding, this section reviews the project and the effectiveness in terms of the aims and objectives stated in Chapter 1, Introduction. Key reasons to the success of each stage of the project have been assembled. Likewise, any limitations in the research methods selected have been recognized and the method to minimize the effect stated. The implication of the results is considered which leads into recommendation for future research. This research project was undertaken knowing it was the starting block of further research, which is how this conclusion ends.
6.1 Project review
The key to the success of understanding the domain (Objective 1) in which emergency crews operated lay in the correct selection of candidates for interviews.
The selection of firefighters and paramedics with many years of experience proved invaluable. The limitation identified with the research method selected, namely live observation was not selected as a research method, was minimized by DVD material supplied by the training staff. Finding experienced training staff and artefacts improved the quality of the understanding.
The interview design was tested on a friendly candidate who was a colleague and had no emergency service experience. This proved fruitless and so a second friendly candidate was used who was a local retain firefighter. This candidate assisted in improving the interview structure and content.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Once recognized as a potential pitfall, the amount of reports of practice and logs required to be studied (Objective2) was easily addressed. There is a considerable amount of forms (See AppendixC, Example Forms) in the emergency services due to the public nature of the information.
Objective 1 and 2 have successfully addressed the aim and research question by understanding what tasks were required to reach the goals of emergency crews. The data was analysed resulting in (5.1, Task Analysis).
The interviews with IT staff were not as first imagined (Objective 3). Surprisingly
NIFRS had more technology and NIAS had less technology than expected. The interviews with NIFRS IT staff could be described as passionate for technology. It was necessary to limit the scope of data collection. NIFRS is leading the way in UK fire and rescue services in terms of technology. Evidence for this fact is presented as the number of visits between the UK and NI brigades. NIAS were perhaps lagging behind in the use of technology and data collection resulted in very little material.
This made comparison between the organizations awkward (Objective 4) and the deliverable was skewed in terms of material being produced.
Objective 3 and 4 had produced results (5.2, Task Categorization ) showing the use of computing technology across the organizations within the domain already defined in the deliverable (5.1, Task Analysis).
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 The categorization of tasks, that the emergency services carry out to save lives and property, evolved while performing the above. Each iteration of interviewing emergency crew and validating the results with document studies assisted in refining the mind map. This data analysis method was effective in identifying the gaps in the technology usage across the emergency organizations (Objective5). The gaps were easily identified and resulted in (5.3, Filling the Gaps with Computing Technology).
The advances in technology were addressed (Objective 5) throughout the lifetime of the project. The literature survey (Chapter 2, Literature Review) done at the beginning of the project provided a good academic base to start the suggestions. A Google search engine 7 running daily for the 9 month duration of the project painted a real time picture of the advances being made. One seminar was attended given by a communication company. Identification of computing technology that could be used required imagination and perhaps a less scientific approach. This was seen as a limitation and was minimized by testing the ideas on the emergency crew and IT staff during the interviews. If time and money had permitted a more thorough approach may have been adopted. One suggestion is speaking to experts in each technology field by attending seminars and exhibitions or technology shows. To minimize this limitation, more than one source of information was obtained and news articles on the exhibitions were read.
7 Keywords included Technology Emergency Services Firefighter Paramedic
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Pulling the set of three deliverables together (Task Analysis, Task Categorization ,
Filling the Gaps with Computing Technology) led to the answer of the research question. The results showed there was significant technology available for use at the front line of emergency services to save lives and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the emergency services. Since reasoning had been used to produce the final deliverable (Filling the Gaps with Computing Technology), it was necessary to validate the results to ensure the effectiveness of the research method. That was why a focus group was formed. This was key to the effectiveness of the project.
Even though the project has been successful in answering the research question, in hindsight I believe that my initial research question was naively formulated. I suggested that the lack of technology was due to missing innovation within a hostile environment while it became apparent even from the first interview that the reason was firstly finance, then reliability of state of the art technology and finally the negative influence of enforcement of data protection laws.
Academically, ten technologies have been identified which will have major impact on saving lives and six technologies with minor impacts and ten technologies have been identified which will have major impact on improving the efficiency of the emergency services and eight technologies with minor impacts. The key difference would be made with the introduction of GPS, Ultrasonic and Thermal Imaging technology.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 The implications of the research results are that further effort is necessary to make the transition from the academic level to the emergency organization, as consideration is required to the reliability of the technology, legal aspects of data privacy and finance.
6.2 Contribution to Knowledge
The results of the project contribute to the knowledge of firefighters and ambulance crews of Northern Ireland. Lessons maybe learned from each other’s organization.
The results of the project also contribute to the knowledge of IT staff of the individual organization in the form of the categorization of tasks. IT staff work with strict budgets, restricted resources, history of long standing organization dating back to before computers were around. The results contribute to their knowledge by providing a fresh look, as an outsider.
The results of the project contribute to the decision makers in public services with highlighting the gaps in computer technology usage.
The project answered a worthwhile question that had not been asked before. Northern
Ireland is a unique part of UK where emergency services are perhaps more experienced due to the conflict of the past.
In the academic world there is a contribution to the field of wearable computing, location technology, biometrics etc. in the form of background information to a challenging environment of emergency services in Northern Ireland.
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Finally, the project may contribute to further research given below.
6.3 Future research
The initial results presented in Chapter 5, Results are beneficial as background information to any research employing the emergency services in Northern Ireland.
The scope for future research is immense. Each potential use of computing technology identified in the results could provide input to prototype applications for use in the emergency services. A prototype was successfully made to help design ubiquitous computing systems for emergency crew in Xiaodong et al. (2004).
One suggestion is a prototype to explore how the location of the firefighter may be married with 3D building plans and projected on the visor to assist in navigation within a high rise building. The technologies being applied are ultrasonic and wireless technologies.
In conclusion, this project is the start of many future research projects.
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AppendixA.Information about Interviews with Emergency Crew
This appendix provides details of the interview session with firefighters and paramedics used to obtain primary source information.
A 1. Interview Goals
1. To design a semi structured interview for firefighters and paramedics of the
emergency crews.
2. This interview must provide an understanding of their experience and perceptions
of an emergency situation. To understand the users, their work and the context of
that work.
3. This interview must record the constraints, context, and irritation which
firefighters and paramedics must work under.
4. The interview must record their intervention and opinions of emergency crews.
5. This interview must record missing technology from a firefighter or paramedic
point of view.
Secondly:
6. This interview must provide sufficient data to interpret them by turning them into
requirements for future computing technology driven applications.
7. The interview should take a user centred approach.
8. The interviews are intended to seek inspiration that would lead to new
opportunities.
9. The interviews must get the story behind a participant's experiences.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 10. The interviews must be carried out with the ethical issues in mind.
Thirdly, the driving vehicle:
11. The results of the interview should answer part of the research question.
12. The analysis of the interview will form part of the dissertation at the end of the
course.
A 2. Interview Session
Here is a list of facts and opinions that should be gained.
1. Identify a list of incidents that you have recently attended.
• When the list if drying up presents the information given below to jog
their mind.
• Find out which one is “typical”.
• Is there a pattern to calls e.g. days of weeks, time of year, fashionable?
2. Choose 3 of the incidents (most typical). For each emergency incident lists the
scenario that each has taken in terms of computing technology usage. A walk
through of a set of scenario’s.
• Start when the crew jump into their vehicles after the 999 call has been
relayed to them.
• End when they have written up the incident reports (maybe days later).
3. Describe the environment in which you work. In terms of:
• Physical Characteristics
• Social Characteristics
• Organization Characteristics
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4. The person.
• What made you become a firefighter / paramedic?
• Would you be a typical firefighter?
• At what age did you become a firefighter?
• What aspects of your job do you like doing?
• Was the entrance exam difficult? How does a typical day run?
• What is the shift hours?
• How computer literate are you? Do you see computing technology a help or
hindrance?
If information does not come freely then See User Profiles (in appendix) and ask if they would be agrees with these statements.
5. Describe the clothes that are used at an incident. Do you feeling the clothing that
is issued is suitable? Would you have concerned if it were heavier?
• Start at the Top and work down.
• Remember different clothing for different incidents or seasons.
6. Describe the equipment that is used at an incident.
• Can you suggest any improvements to the equipment?
• What do you find frustrating about the equipment?
• What has ever gone wrong with the equipment?
7. Describe the vehicles despatched to the scene of an incident.
• How do you navigate to a scene?
• What data is available before you get there?
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 • What data is available once you are there?
8. Describe the command and support unit.
9. Describe communication that you have at the scene of an accident. Emergency
Crew to Emergency Crew, Command and Support, Control Room, other
emergency organizations.
• How do you know whose responsibility it is for particular aspects.
• What data is missing or does not arrive timely in the scenario’s chosen above?
10. In your opinion what technology would be useful in the Emergency Service.
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A 3. List of Incidents attended by NIFRS
• House Fire
• Multiple Occupancy High Rise
• Multiple Occupancy Low Rise
• Multiple Occupancy Medium Rise
• Multiple Occupancy Single Basement
• Single Occupancy
• Underground Complex
• Prison Fire
• Special Service – Casualty Retrieval
• Hazardous Material
• Height
• Lift
• Lock in
• Water
• Special Service – Casualty Trapped
• Extraction from Machinery / Structure
• Rail Transport Accident
• Ship Accident
• Aeroplane Accident
• Small Boat Accident
• Road Traffic Accident
• Property Fire Page 127 of 171
Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 • Derelict Building
• Shop
• Other
• Chimney
• Secondary
• Rescue animal from distressing situation
• Removal of handcuffs
• Bomb explosion
• Reported Bomb
• Retrieve body from River Lagan
• Escaped animal from Zoo
• Suicide / Attempted Suicide
• Fuel Laundry Plant
• Hostage Situation
• Tunnel Fire
• Rescue from Collapsed Building
A 4. List of Incidents attended by NIAS
• Fire
• Heart Attack / Chest Pain
• Difficulty in Breathing
• Loss of Consciousness
• Severe loss of blood
• Severe Burns and Scalds Page 128 of 171
Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 • Choking
• Fitting / Convulsions
• Serve Allergic Reaction
• Train Crash
• Bomb incident
• Hostage Situation
• Suicide / Attempted Suicide
• Drowning
• Rescue from Collapsed Building
• Accident in Public Place (Shop, Church, Cinema, Airport)
• Accident in Work Place
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A 5. User Profile – Firefighter
• Lifting required. Basic up to 30 pounds. Intermediate up to 50 pounds.
Advanced up to 80 pounds.
• Meets standards of physical fitness necessary for the demands of the position.
• Make effective decisions by analyzing information and considering priorities.
• Remains productive and meets goals under pressure.
• Handles ambiguity and copes with change.
• Combines experience and knowledge to assess and resolve most issues.
• Is aware of personal biases and doesn't allow them to affect decisions.
• Has excellent attendance and can handle responsibility.
• Remains composed and behave professionally during emotionally charged
situations.
• Can be trusted to maintain confidentiality and adhere to professional values.
A 6. User Profile – Paramedic
• Have a high level of social interaction. Ambulance drivers work with emergency
medical technicians (EMTs), hospital workers, and dispatchers.
• Deal with external customers, such as the patients they transport.
• Often are exposed to diseases and infections. There is some possibility of
moderate injury from this exposure.
• Must be constantly aware of frequent or unexpected changes. This is especially
true in busy traffic situations.
• Are responsible for patients’ health and safety.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 • Sometimes deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals.
• Are sometimes placed in conflict situations.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Keep or regain the body’s balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without
getting tired.
• Recognize and understand the speech of another person.
• Medicine and Dentistry: Knowledge of injuries, illnesses, and defects. Also
includes the knowledge of setting up a plan for treatment.
• Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of providing special services to
customers based on their needs.
• Geography: Knowledge of land, sea, and air masses. Also includes knowledge of
how to describe their location, features, and relationships.
• Transportation: Knowledge of ways to move people, goods, or materials. This
may be by air, rail, sea, or road.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information
without becoming confused.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters and numbers. This is important when
trying to find a house while on an emergency call.
• Creativity
• Emotional Distancing
• Emotional Involvement
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AppendixB. Glossary of Terminology
This appendix is not the author’s own work. The terms have been adapted from
(M881, Unit 1), (M873, Glossary) and wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ( http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki) .
B.1. Domain Terminology disaster A serious disruption of the functioning of society, posing a significant, widespread threat to human life, health, property or the environment, whether caused by accident, nature or human activity, and whether developing suddenly or as the result of complex, long term processes. emergency An urgent need for assistance or relief emergency call A call from a user to an emergency control centre emergency call service A caller is given a fast and easy means of giving information about an emergency situation to the appropriate emergency organization (e.g. fire and rescue service, police, and ambulance). emergency control centre Facilities used by emergency organizations used to accept and handle emergency calls. A PSAP forwards emergency calls to the emergency control centres. emergency number 999 or 112 emergency service A service [. . . ] that provides immediate and rapid assistance in situations where there is a direct risk to life or limb, individual or public health or safety, to private or public property, or the environment but not necessarily limited to these situations. emergency situation A situation of serious nature that develops suddenly and unexpectedly. Note An emergency situation is an abnormal situation, which evolution is uncertain and which may turn into a crisis or create damage and casualties. health hazard Means a sudden outbreak of infectious disease, such as an epidemic or pandemic, or other event posing a significant threat to human life or health, which has the potential for triggering a disaster. incendiary Incendiary refers to any fire that has been deliberately set. While it is most often used to refer to crimes of arson, it is also technically correct to use it for any fire, which has been deliberately started. location information • in a public mobile network, the data processed indicating the geographic position of a user's mobile terminal, and • in a public fixed network, the data about the physical address of the termination point. natural hazard Event or process, such as an earthquake, fire, flood, wind, landslide, avalanche, cyclone, tsunami, insect infestation, drought or volcanic
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 eruption, which has the potential for triggering a disaster. relief operations Those activities designed to reduce loss of life, human suffering and damage to property and/or the environment caused by a disaster. telecommunication Provision of telecommunication resources or other resources or assistance support intended to facilitate the use of telecommunication resources. telecommunication Personnel, equipment, materials, information, training, radio resources frequency spectrum, network or transmission capacity or other resources necessary to telecommunications. telecommunications Any transmission, emission, or reception of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds or intelligence of any nature, by wire, radio, optical fibre or other electromagnetic system. widespread outage Sustained interruption of telecommunications services that will have strategic significance to government, industry and the general public. Table 11: Glossary of Domain Terms
B.2. Firefighter Terminology
Backdraft A backdraft is a situation, which can occur when a fire is starved of oxygen; consequently combustion ceases but the fuel gases and smoke remain at high temperature. If oxygen is re introduced to the fire, e.g. by opening a door to a closed room, combustion can restart often resulting in a explosive effect as the gases heat and expand. This effect is the basis for the synonym smoke explosion. Characteristic signs include yellow or brown smoke, smoke which exits small holes in puffs (often found around the edges of doors and windows), and windows which appear brown or black when viewed from the exterior. These darker colours are caused by incomplete combustion. If the room contains a lot of soot, it indicates that the room lacks enough oxygen to permit combustion. Firefighters often look if there is soot on the inside of windows and in cracks around in the room. The window might have cracked because of the heat. If firefighters discover a room pulling air into itself, for example through a crack, they should evacuate immediately, because this is a strong indication that a backdraft is imminent. Due to pressure differentials, these puffs of smoke are sometimes "sucked" back into the enclosed space from which they emanate, which is where the term "backdraft" originates. This is a very dangerous situation, often surprising even professional firefighters. The most common tactic used by firefighters in defusing a potential backdraft is to ventilate from the highest point, allowing the heat and smoke to escape without igniting explosively. Breathing Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) delivers air to the Apparatus firefighter through a full face mask and is worn to protect against smoke inhalation, toxic fumes, and super heated gasses. Firefighter’ A firefighter’s pole or sliding pole is a wooden pole or a metal tube or
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 s Pole pipe installed between floors in fire stations, which was invented by Chicago, Illinios resident David Kenyon, although it is often incorrectly credited to the Boston Fire Department. Firefighter A firefighter, fireman, or firewoman is a person who is trained and equipped to put out fires, rescue people, pets, and aid and assist during natural disasters and, increasingly, provide emergency medical services. The fire service, also known in some countries as the fire brigade or fire department, is one of the emergency services. Firefighting Firefighting is the process and profession of extinguishing fires. Firefighting and firefighters have become ubiquitous around the world, from urban areas to wild land areas, and on board ships. Not all firefighters are paid for their services. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the use of retained firefighters (who are part time, but are paid when on duty) rather than a volunteer is standard. In Germany, volunteer fire departments are standard – even the biggest German city, Berlin with more than 3 million inhabitants has voluntary firefighters. There are only 101 cities that have a professional fire service, in German called Berufsfeuerwehr. The three main goals in firefighting are (in order) life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation. Firefighting is an inherently dangerous occupation. As such, the skills required for safe operations are regularly practiced during training evolutions throughout a firefighter's career. Fire A fire hydrant (also known colloquially as a fire plug in the USA or as Hydrant a johnny pump in New York City), is an active fire protection measure, and a source of water provided in most urban, suburban and rural areas with municipal water service to enable firefighters to tap into the municipal water supply to assist in extinguishing a fire. The concept of fire plugs dates to at least the 1600s. This was a time when firefighters responding to a call would dig down to the water mains and hastily bore a hole to secure water to fight fires via bucket brigades or, later, via hand pumped fire engines. The holes were then plugged with stoppers, which over time came to be known as fire plugs. This is the source of the colloquial term fire plug still used for fire hydrants today. After the Great Fire of London in 1666, the city installed water mains with holes drilled at intervals, equipped with risers, placing the fire plugs at street level. It has been claimed that Birdsill Holly invented the fire hydrant, but his 1869 design was preceded by many other patents for fire hydrants, and a number of these earlier designs were produced and successfully marketed. Numerous wooden cased fire hydrant designs existed prior to the development of the familiar cast iron hydrant. Although the development of the first above ground hydrant in the USA traces back to Philadelphia in 1803, underground fire hydrants — common in parts of Europe and Asia — have existed since the 1700s. Fire Sand A fire sand bucket or fire bucket is a bucket filled with sand, which is Bucket used to put out fires. They are often kept next to ovens, barbecues and Page 134 of 171
Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 other areas where fires can occur. Because oil fires are resistant to water, a fire sand bucket is used to put out the fire. In order to put out the fire, the sand in the bucket is dumped on the fire to starve it of the oxygen it needs to stay alight. Flashover A flashover is the simultaneous ignition of all combustible material in an enclosed area. Flashover occurs when the majority of surfaces in a space are heated to the point (known as fire point) at which they give off flammable gases that are hot enough to sustain combustion. Flashover normally occurs at 500 °C (930 °F). The classic example of flashover is where a piece of furniture is set alight in a domestic room. The fire on the furniture produces a layer of hot smoke across the ceiling in the room. The radiated heat from this layer causes pyrolysis (heating of the other surfaces in the room, causing them to give off flammable gases). When the surface temperatures become high enough, these gases ignite and, in the space of a few seconds, every surface in the room may be on fire. Hazmat A hazardous material (Hazmat or HAZMAT) is any solid, liquid, or gas that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment. A hazardous material may be radioactive, flammable, explosive, toxic, corrosive, biohazards, an oxidizer, an asphyxiate, an allergen, or may have other characteristics that make it hazardous in specific circumstances. Turntable A turntable ladder (also aerial ladder) is the ladder on top of a fire truck Ladder which is used by firefighters to rescue people from structures or to extinguish fire (using hoses and water from a nearby pumper). The first successful aerial ladder was patented in 1868 by Daniel Hayes. A spring assisted raising mechanism for aerial ladders was developed by Seagrave in 1902. Pirch developed a hydraulic lifted aerial in 1931, which also eliminated the need to turn and extend the ladder manually. Eventually wooden ladders were replaced by stronger metallic ones. Soon it was possible to raise a 3 or 4 section, 100 foot, aerial ladder, although an additional "tiller" driver at the rear was required on such long apparatus when making sharp turns. Table 12: Glossary of Firefighter Terms
B.3. Ambulance and Medical Terminology
ECG ECG (electrocardiogram) is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. The heart is a muscular organ that beats in rhythm to pump the blood through the body. The signals that make the heart's muscle fibers contract come from the sinoatrial node, which is the natural pacemaker of the heart. In an ECG test, the electrical impulses made while the heart is beating are recorded and usually shown on a piece of paper. This is known as an electrocardiogram, and records any problems with the heart's rhythm, and the conduction of the heart beat Page 135 of 171
Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 through the heart, which may be affected by underlying heart disease. Table 13: Glossary of Ambulance and Medical Terms
B.4. Technology Terminology
Computer A system consisting of a computer and its attached devices. System Computing A computer system plus the software that enables the solution of problems for System human users. Computing A technology which is found in a computer and its attached devices. technology Computing Computing technology plus the software that enables the solution of problems technology for human users. Embedded A computer system embedded within a physical object usually for the purpose of system monitoring its state and controlling its action. Environment Those things that affect a system but are not part of it. Global The Global Positioning System, usually called GPS, is the only fully functional Positioning satellite navigation system. A constellation of more than two dozen GPS System satellites broadcasts precise timing signals by radio, allowing any GPS receiver (abbreviated to GPSr) to accurately determine its location (longitude, latitude, and altitude) in any weather, day or night, anywhere on Earth. GPS has become a vital global utility, indispensable for modern navigation on land, sea, and air around the world, as well as an important tool for map making and land surveying. GPS also provides an extremely precise time reference, required for telecommunications and some scientific research, including the study of earthquakes. GPS receivers can also gauge altitude and speed with a very high degree of accuracy. Human Human factors (also known as ergonomics) is the study of how humans behave Factors physically and psychologically in relation to particular environments, products, or services. Mind Map A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, and decision making. It is an image centered diagram that represents semantic or other connections between portions of information. By presenting these connections in a radial, non linear graphical manner, it encourages a brainstorming approach to any given organizational task, eliminating the hurdle of initially establishing an intrinsically appropriate or relevant conceptual framework to work within. Pervasive Pervasive computing devices are very tiny, even invisible, devices, either mobile Computing or embedded in almost any type of object imaginable, including cars, tools, appliances, clothing and various consumer goods all communicating through increasingly interconnected networks.
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Radio Radio Frequency Identification is an automatic identification method, relying on Frequency storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or Identification transponders. An RFID tag is an object that can be attached to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification using radio waves. Chip based RFID tags contain silicon chips and antennas. Passive tags require no internal power source, whereas active tags require a power source. Sequence The well known Message Sequence Chart technique has been incorporated into Diagram the Unified Modelling Language (UML) diagram under the name of Sequence Diagram. A sequence diagram shows, as parallel vertical lines, different processes or objects that live simultaneously, and, as horizontal arrows, the messages exchanged between them, in the order in which they occur. This allows the specification of simple runtime scenarios in a graphical manner. Task The process of examining the way people performs their tasks. It involves Analysis looking in depth at the tasks and actions a person undertakes, along with the knowledge needed, to perform the task(s) and reach a goal. Task A narrative description of a task, describing the current use of a computer Scenario system. Task scenarios are very detailed and they describe, step by step, the procedures a user follows to complete a task, as well as the features and behaviour of the computer system with which the user interacted while undertaking the task. Thermal Thermography , or thermal imaging , is a type of infrared imaging. Imaging Thermographic cameras detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum (roughly 900–14,000 nanometers or 0.9–14 m) and produce images of that radiation. Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects based on their temperature, according to the black body radiation law, thermography makes it possible to "see" one's environment with or without visible illumination. The amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature, therefore thermography allows one to see variations in temperature (hence the name). When viewed by thermographic camera, warm objects stand out well against cooler backgrounds; humans and other warm blooded animals become easily visible against the environment, day or night. As a result, thermography's extensive use can historically be ascribed to the military and security services. Telemetry Telemetry is a technology that allows the remote measurement and reporting of (sensor information of interest to the system designer or operator. The word is derived technology) from Greek roots tele = remote, and metron = measure. Telemetry typically refers to wireless communications (i.e. using a radio frequency system to implement the data link), but can also refer to data transfer over other media, such as a telephone or computer network or via an optical link. Ubiquitous Ubiquity is the ability to be present everywhere or at several places at once. The term is derived from Latin ubique , which means everywhere . (Oxford English Dictionary). It is used in mobile technology owing to the ubiquitous nature ("anytime, anywhere") of its services. VHF (Very Very high frequency (VHF) is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 High MHz. Common uses for VHF are FM radio broadcast at 88–108 MHz and Frequency) television broadcast (together with UHF). VHF is also commonly used for
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 terrestrial navigation systems (VOR in particular), Marine Communication, and aircraft communications. VHF frequencies' propagation characteristics are ideal for short distance terrestrial communication, with a range generally somewhat farther than line of sight from the transmitter (see formula below). Unlike high frequencies (HF), the ionosphere does not usually reflect VHF radio and thus transmissions are restricted to the local area (and don't interfere with transmissions thousands of kilometers away). VHF is also less affected by atmospheric noise and interference from electrical equipment than low frequencies. Whilst it is more easily blocked by land features than HF and lower frequencies, it is less bothered by buildings and other less substantial objects than higher frequencies. Wearable A wearable computer is a small portable computer that is designed to be worn on Computer the body during use. In this wearable computers differ from PDAs, which are designed for hand held use, although the distinction can sometimes be a blurry one. Table 14: Glossary of Technology Terminology
B.5. Acronyms
3D Three Dimensional ACM Association for Computing Machinery BA Breathing Apparatus BBC British Broadcasting Corporation BMW Bavarian Motor Works CCTV Closed Circuit Television CFD Computational Fluid Dynamics CPR Coronary Pulmonary Resuscitation CSU Command and Support Unit DRA Dynamic Risk Assessment EASE Emergency Air Supply Equipment ECB Entry Control Board ECG Electrocardiogram ECO Entry Control Officer EMS Emergency Medical Services EMTEL Emergency Telecommunication ERT Emergency Rescue Tender ET Emergency Tender ETSI European Telecommunication Standards Institute FDR Fire Descriptive Report FF Firefighter GIS Geographic Information System GPS Global Positioning System HAZMAT Hazardous Material HM Her Majesty’s
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 ID Identification IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IP Internet Protocol IT Information Technology ITU International Telecommunication Union M. Sc. Master of Science MESA (name of project) n. d. No Date NHS National Health Service NI Northern Ireland NIAS Northern Ireland Ambulance Service NIFRS Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service NU PAK (name of company) OIC Officer in Charge PDA Personal Digital Assistant PPDR Public Protection and Disaster Relief PRF Patient Report Form PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network RFID Radio Frequency Identification RTA Road Traffic Accident RTC Road Traffic Collision SCBA Self Contained Breathing Apparatus SIM Subscriber Identification Module TETRA Terrestrial Trunked Radio TIA Telecommunications Industry Association TMA Tutor Marked Assessment TOW Time to Whistle TSV Technical Support Unit TTW BG Time to Whistle of Bodyguard UK United Kingdom UML Unified Modelling Language US United States USA United States of America USART Urban Search and Rescue Team VHF Very High Frequency XML Extensible Markup Language Table 15: Acronyms
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AppendixC. Example Forms
C.1 Print out in Fire Station
MOBILIZATION MESSAGE AT 08 OCT 06 21:54:17 Source: 70:003 Callsigns: N4101, N4102 Incident: 31457502 MOBILISE APPLICANCES:
N4101 FROM N41 AS PUMP N4102 FROM N41 AS PUMP E1301 FROM E13 AS PUMP
ADDRESS:
17 @ HILLHALL PARK HILLHALL LISBURN NORTHERN IRELAND LOCATION:
*S* HILLHALL GARDENS * D* NEAR JUNTION HILLHALL ROAD & ORRS LANE INCIDENT TYPE: PERSONS REPORTED ADD INFO: NEAR WRIGHTS ACCIDENT REPAIR SHOP CALL TAKEN: 21:52:17 08/10/06 INCIDENT ID: 31457502 STN GND: DROMORE CALLER PHONE: 02892373773 (23 HILLHALL GARDENS, LISBURN, BT27 9SN, MS. PATRICIA WILSON) MAPREF:
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 G8 LBB2 j 27914 64194 STREET INFO: HYDRANT: HYD(S) O/S 45, 46 END MESSAGE
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C.2 Patient Report Form (PRF) Page 1
Figure 28: Patient Report Form (PRF) Page 1
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C.3 Patient Report Form (PRF) Page 2
Figure 29: Patient Report Form (PRF) Page 2
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Figure 30: Fire Description Report (Page 1)
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 C.5 Fire Description Report (FDR) Page 2
Figure 31: Fire Description Report (Page 2)
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C.6 Fire Description Report (FDR) Page 3
Figure 32: Fire Description Report (Page 3)
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C.7 Fire Description Report (PDR) Page 4
Figure 33: Fire Description Report (Page 4)
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C.8 NIFRS Vehicle Log Sheet
Figure 34: NIFRS Vehicle Log Sheet
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C.9 NIFRS Breathing Apparatus Log Sheet
Figure 35: NIFRS Breathing Apparatus Log Sheet
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AppendixD.Example Paperwork
Example of Inventory in Fire Engine
Figure 36: Example of Inventory of Fire Engine Pockets(Page1)
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Figure 37: Example of Inventory of Fire Engine Pockets(Page2)
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350 Example Aid Memoir
Figure 38: Example of Aid Memoir(Front)
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Figure 39: Example of Aid Memoir(Back)
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AppendixE. Health and Safety Statement–NIFRS
Figure 40:Health and Safety Statement–NIFRS
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AppendixF. Example Equipment
DrägerMan Telemetry System
Figure 41:DrägerMan Telemetry System
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Figure 42:DrägerMan Portable Unit
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Modus System
Figure 43:Modus System
Thermal Imaging Camera (Argus)
Figure 44: Thermal Imaging Camera
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Index
9 11, 27 office, 12, 19, 49, 103, 168
999, 91, 93, 102, 107, 108, 124, 132 pervasive, 19, 32, 36 blind, 33 poverty, 16
CCTV, 85, 138 research question, 14, 22, 30, 37, 47, 54, 56, 80, 87, decision making, 15, 28, 29, 35, 109 115, 116, 118, 120, 124
Dräger, 2, 82, 115 robot, 27, 159
DrägerMan, 2, 82, 155, 156 sequence diagram, 44, 45 front line, 2, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 26, 35, 38, 44, 52, Sir Eyre Massey, 40
80, 93, 95, 98, 110, 114, 115, 120 stress, 14, 28, 29 hindsight, 120 task analysis, 43, 44, 46, 54
I Wish You Could See , 171 task scenarios , 12, 45, 54, 55, 115 invisible, 30, 35, 136 terrorism, 16
Knockbracken, 2, 48 Tetra, 84, 85, 86
Lisburn, 2, 48 thermal imaging, 31, 85
MESA, 20, 34, 166 Thermal Imaging , 157 mind map, 52, 119 ubiquitous, 14, 20, 26, 30, 32, 122, 134, 137, 160,
Modus, 83, 86, 93, 157 163
Northern Ireland, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 29, 35, 81, wearable, 19, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 121, 138, 158
84, 92, 108, 110, 115, 121, 122, 160, 163 World Trade Centre, 27
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Name: Patricia Wilson Personal Identifier: U3374350
I Wish You Could See I wish you could see the sadness of a business man as his livelihood goes up in flames, or that family returning home, only to find their house and belongings damaged or lost for good. I wish you could know what it is like to search a burning bedroom for trapped children, flames rolling above your head, your palms and knees burning as you crawl, the floor sagging under your weight as the kitchen below you burns. I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 3 a. m. as I check her husband of 40 years for a pulse and find none. I start CPR anyway, hoping to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too late. But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was done to try to save his life. I wish you knew the unique smell of burning insulation, the taste of soot filled mucus, the feeling of intense heat through your turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling, the eeriness of being able to see absolutely nothing in dense smoke sensations that I've become too familiar with. I wish you could understand how it feels to go to work in the morning after having spent most of the night, hot and soaking wet at a multiple alarm fire. I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a building fire "Is this a false alarm or a working fire? How is the building constructed? What hazards await me? Is anyone trapped?" Or to an EMS call, "What is wrong with the patient? Is it minor or life threatening? Is the caller really in distress or is he waiting for us with a 2x4 or a gun?" I wish you could be in the emergency room as a doctor pronounces dead the beautiful five year old girl that I have been trying to save during the past 25 minutes. Who will never go on her first date or say the words, "I love you Mommy" again. I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the engine, the driver with his foot pressing down hard on the pedal, my arm tugging again and again at the air horn chain, as you fail to yield the right of way at an intersection or in traffic. When you need us however, your first comment upon our arrival will be, "It took you forever to get here!" I wish you could know my thoughts as I help extricate a girl of teenage years from the remains of her automobile. "What if this was my sister, my girlfriend or a friend? What were her parents’ reaction going to be when they opened the door to find a police officer with hat in hand?" I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the back door and greet my parents and family, not having the heart to tell them that I nearly did not come back from the last call. I wish you could feel the hurt as people verbally, and sometimes physically, abuse us or belittle what I do, or as they express their attitudes of "It will never happen to me. " I wish you could realize the physical, emotional and mental drain or missed meals, lost sleep and forgone social activities, in addition to all the tragedy my eyes have seen. I wish you could know the brotherhood and self satisfaction of helping save a life or of preserving someone's property, or being able to be there in time of crisis, or creating order from total chaos. I wish you could understand what it feels like to have a little boy tugging at your arm and asking, "Is Mommy okay?" Not even being able to look in his eyes without tears from your own and not knowing what to say. Or to have to hold back a long time friend who watches his buddy having rescue breathing done on him as they take him away in the ambulance. You know all along he did not have his seat belt on. A sensation that I have become too familiar with. Unless you have lived with this kind of life, you will never truly understand or appreciate who I am, we are, or what our job really means to us. . . I wish you could. . . —author unknown
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