Abstract: A system and method are provided for populating a database and/or software screen in a computer with data read from portable high-capacity machine-readable media. The method of the present invention includes the steps of: loading and executing an interpretive software program in the computer; reading a portable high-capacity machine-readable medium with a reading device coupled to the computer; and using the interpretive software program to identify any qualifier character that is present in the data read from the machine-readable medium, ignore the data if no qualifier character is identified, and populate the database and/or software screen with the data read from the machine-readable medium if a qualifier character is identified.

Abstract: A personnel accountability system accounting for personnel reporting to a site. The personnel accountability system includes an information receiving device, a processor, and a display. The information receiving device is provided for receiving information from a data storage device carried by the personnel or from the personnel directly. The received information pertains to the personnel, and may include identification, qualification, and/or medical information. Upon receiving the data, the system subsequently stores and displays the received information. This system may also be used to receive information regarding a site.

Abstract: A personnel accountability system accounting for personnel reporting to a site. The personnel accountability system includes a bar code reader, a processor, and a display for reading bar codes carried by the personnel, which contain information pertaining to the personnel, such as qualification and medical information, and for subsequently storing and displaying the information contained in the bar codes. This system may also be used to read bar codes containing information regarding the site. Preferably, the bar codes are two-dimensional bar codes. This system is particularly suited for accounting for firefighters arriving at the scene of an emergency.