Integrated Modeling of Disaster Emergency Response Activities Using Simulation: Bornova Case Study

Abstract

We present a detailed integrated simulation model for casualty transportation and emergency room management after a major disaster. Usually, the two important processes are handled separately in literature. However, to be able to correctly evaluate preparedness of disaster and emergency and minimize potential loss of lives, these two interconnected processes must be analysed together. We present a case study for the proposed integrated simulation model using real life data for Bornova, İzmir in Turkey. Results obtained by running the simulation model with a detailed experimental design are statistically analysed and findings are discussed.

Keywords

• Disaster
• Emergency rescue activities management
• Discrete event simulation

References

1. Christie, PM. and Levary, RR. The use of simulation in planning the transportation of patients to hospitals following a disaster. Journal of Medical Systems 1998; 22: 289–300.
2. Fawcett, W and Olivera, CS. Casualty treatment after earthquake disasters: Development of a regional simulation model. Disasters 2000; 24: 271-287.
3. Sullivan, K. Simulating rural emergency medical services during mass casualty disasters. MS Thesis, Kansas State University, USA, 2008.
4. Ullrich, C, Debacker, M, and Dhondt, E. Pre-hospital simulation model for medical disaster management. In: Proceedings of the 2013 Winter Simulation Conference, 2013, pp. 2432-2443
5. Au-Yeung, SWM., Harrison, PG. and Knottenbelt, WJ. A queuing network model of patient flow in an accident and emergency department. 20th Annual European and Simulation Modeling Conference, Toulouse, France, October 2006, pp. 60-67.
6. Paul, J.A. et al. Transient modeling in simulation of hospital operations for emergency response. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 2006; 21: 223–236.
7. Patvivatsiri, L. A Simulation model for bioterrorism preparedness in an emergency room. In: Proceedings of the 38th conference on Winter simulation, 2006, pp. 501-508.
8. Joshi, AJ. Study on the effect of different arrival patterns on an emergency department’s capacity using discrete event simulation. MS Thesis, Kansas State University, USA, 2008

9. Yi, P. et al. Hospital capacity planning for disaster emergency management. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences 2010; 44: 151-160.
10. Cao, H. and Huang, S. Principles of scarce medical resource allocation in natural disaster relief: A simulation approach. Medical Decision Making 2012; 32: 470-476
11. Wang, J, Jiang, C, and Yu, H. Discrete-event simulation engineering in evaluation of medical treatment capability against biochemicalterrorist attacks. Systems Engineering Procedia 2012; 5: 275.
12. CRED (Center for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters).Annual Disaster Statistical Review: http://cred.be/sites/default/files/ADSR_2012.pdf
13. İzmir Valiliği. İl Acil Yardım Planı. http://www.izmir.gov.tr/default_B0.aspx? content=78. Pollander, GS and Rund, DA. Analysis of medical needs in disasters caused by earthquake: The need for a uniform injury reporting scheme. Disasters 1989; 13: 365-369.
14. De Bruycker et al. The 1980 earthquake in Southern Italy: Rescue of trapped victims and mortality. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 1983; 61: 1021-1025.
15. Roces MC. et al. Risk factors for injuries due to the 1990 earthquake in Luzon, Philippines.
16. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 1992; 70: 509-514.
17. İzmir Valiliği. Afet Bilgi Rehberi-2011. http://www.buca.bel.tr/files/1404997695.pdf.
18. Mirhashemi, S et al. The 2003 Bam earthquake: Overview of first aid and transport of victims.
19. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 2007; 22: 513-516.
20. Cone, DC. and Koenig, KL. Mass casualty triage in the chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear environment. European Journal of Emergency Medicine 2005; 12: 287-302.
21. Hirshberg, A, Stein, M and Walden, R. Surgical resource utilization in urban terrorist bombing: A computer simulation. Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care 1999; 47: 545-550.
22. Koehler, G, Foley, D and Jones, M A computer simulation of a California casualty collection point used to respond to a major earthquake. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1992; 7: 339-347.
23. Connelly, LG. and Bair, AE. Discrete event simulation of emergency department activity: A platform for system-level operations research. Academic Emergency Medicine 2004; 11: 1177–
24. Franc-Law, JM., Bullard, M and Corte, FD. Simulation of a hospital disaster plan: A virtual, live exercise. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 2008; 23: 346-353.