Plaintext
Triage
Training
System (TTS)
David Dorhout- Dorhout R&D LLC
2013
Project ID Number: micro13DD297
Triage Training System Report
Overview
A simple, cost-effective way to create and manage realistic mass injury simulations and assess the
effectiveness of the response team
Data
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Summary
The Triage Training System (TTS) provides a simple, mobile way to dynamically manage large groups of
“victims” in a mass injury simulation by providing individual instructions on how each “victim” should act
based on their unique injury. The TTS also simulates life signs such as a pulse. In addition, it
simultaneously collects “treatment” data on how each of the victims were assisted (pulse and airways)
and sorted in real time by the medics.
This new system is more cost-effective than current methods because it: 1) Reduces training preparation
time for both coordinators and participants, 2) Allows everyday actors without specialized medical
knowledge (wider pool of actors) to portray realistic scenarios, and 3) Uses off-the-shelf technology to
build the devices which saves costs associated with custom hardware.
Instructions
Data
Coordinator starts the Each actors playing a “victim” is read individual instructions based on
simulation, monitors which combination of 12 wounds the coordinator may have selected for
progress, and advances their character and when the coordinator wants to “activate” that
the simulation character allowing for progressive simulations with multiple “events”
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Description
The Triage Training System has two main parts. The first system is the “Acting Coach” that each actor
playing a “victim” wears and the second system is the “Coordinator’s Tablet” that the coordinator uses
to direct and manage the simulation.
Acting Coach Coordinator’s Tablet
Acting Coach
The Acting Coach is a small, wearable device that:
Communicates with the Coordinator’s Tablet
Gives individualized audio instructions to the actor playing the victim
Simulates life signs consistent with the simulated injury
Monitors sensors that record and transmit the paramedic’s actions in assessing the victim’s
condition
Records and transmits what triage level the paramedic assesses them at (Dead, Immediate,
Delay, or Minor)
The small form factor and rugged design of
the Acting Coach allows for more realistic
simulations under inclement weather. The
simplicity of design and interface allows for
less “training the victims” and more “training
the medics” than current methods while
simultaneously allowing for more complex
scenarios that have multiple phases just like
real disasters.
Acting Coach without cover
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Acting Coach Major Systems
#1
#7
#4
#9
#3
Bottom Board
#5 #12 #6
1. Propeller chip on a Parallax Demo Board controlling the
Acting Coach system
2. Twelve unique injuries roughly divided into three groups
(Airway, Circulation/Bleeding, Shock/Nerves system) of #2
switches with four levels of severity located on the top board
(image to the Right). The coordinator just selects which
injury(s) they want for that scenario.
3. XBee Pro (range- 1 mile outside) in API mode provides two-
way communication between the Coordinator and each actor
4. Emic2 text-to-speech module provides audio instructions to the actor Top Board
playing the victim while allowing the victim to remain in character
5. Replay button allows the actor to replay the last set of instructions
6. Air pressure sensor that monitors both:
o If the paramedic checks to see if they can revive a non-
breathing victim
o If paramedic uses the correct technique
7. RFID tag reader for reading which trauma level tag that the paramedic
assess the victim at (Dead, Immediate, Delay, or Minor)
#11
8. RFID tags for assigning trauma levels (Dead, Immediate, Delay, or
Minor) [not shown] #10
9. RFID LED indicator lights that indicate that the RFID tag has been read
and what the victim’s trauma level is Uncovered
Pulse Monitor
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10. Pulse monitoring button that is worn on the victim’s arm, leg, or neck
11. Pulse motor vibrates the correct intensity and duration to simulate the pulse of a victim with
those injuries. The motor is strategically located directly next to the pulse button so that the
paramedic can use the correct technique for checking the victim’s pulse without breaking
character
12. Audio jack for actor’s headphones
Coordinator’s Tablet
The Coordinator’s Tablet is a small portable device that the coordinator uses to:
Simultaneously start and end the simulation for all of the participants
Direct the actions of the “victims”
Monitor the paramedic’s responses
Advance the simulation for more realistic, multiphase simulations that could have multiple
groups of victims that would simulate multiple attacks or explosions
Escalate the simulation by increasing the injuries of any of the victims who did not have their
wounds correctly assisted or who had not yet been treated
The small size and rugged construction allows the coordinator to have mobility and is discreet
enough that they could remain anonymous (if desired) while walking throughout the simulation
The flexibility of choosing wounds and wound groups helps recreate the chaos of emergencies
#1
#2 B
#2 A #3 #4
1. Propeller chip on a Parallax Demo Board controlling the Coordinator’s Tablet
2. Touch screen for user-friendly interface access and simulation monitoring (2A- adaptor board;
2B- touch screen)
3. XBee Pro (range- 1 mile outside) in API mode provides two-way communication between the
Coordinator and each actor
4. Weather-resistant Pelican case provides protection from the elements and shock while
monitoring the progression of the simulation
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Conclusion
The Triage Training System is a simple, cost effective way to train first responders in more realistic
scenarios than are currently possible. The Acting Coach quickly gives the actors (playing the victims) the
ability to convincingly play their parts without having to spend hours going through training and trying
to remember their symptoms or to have specialized medical knowledge. All they have to do is wear the
Acting Coach and follow the verbal instructions given to them via the inconspicuous ear bud. They no
longer have to break character and read “cheat sheets” or guess.
In addition, the Coordinator’s Tablet allows the coordinator to walk covertly throughout the scenario,
monitoring and recording the progress of the medics and secretly advance the scenario without having
to resort to announcing everything through a radio or loud speaker, breaking the realism of the
scenario. Future iterations of the Acting Coach could include functional wounds with realistic bleeding
and the Coordinator’s Tablet could be easily equipped to trigger environmental events such as simulated
explosions.
Both the Acting Coach and Coordinator’s Tablet are built using off-the-shelf technology. By utilizing
existing hardware this eliminates large amounts of development time and other costs associated with
custom hardware solutions.
Appendix
Contact information:
David Dorhout
DDorhout@DorhoutRD.com
www.DorhoutRD.com
(Please see website for links to videos, schematics, source code, and more pictures)
Cover Photo Model Credit: Specialist Micah Morgan
Links:
Videos-
Triage Training System- Outside: http://youtu.be/OuhLONtDkW4
Triage Training System with Acting Coach Audio: http://youtu.be/u2nGL8isalI
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Acting Coach text
Licensing:
Creative Commons 3.0 as required by the MicroMedic Contest rules
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