Abstract: A system and method for tracking victims of a mass casualty incident includes the steps of: (a) providing a tag to be associated with each victim, each tag containing machine-readable data representing information including at least the victims triage priority; (b) reading the machine-readable data; and (c) displaying the information read in step (b). Each tag may further contain machine-readable data representing information including at least one of (1) an identification code uniquely associated with the victim; (2) name of the victim; (3) the nature of the victim's injuries; (4) the victim's medical condition; (5) the victim's initial treatment; (6) physical characteristics of the victim; (7) the victim's photo; and (8) the location to which the victim was transported or assigned.

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 Portable Data Assistant (PDA) inputs non-conventional data such as barcode data from a barcode reading device (i.e., a barcode scanner) into an application program running on the PDA. A special input routine (SIR) is loaded into the PDA for inputting and processing data received from the non-conventional input device. The SIR scans the input data and verifies that it contains valid data for the target application program. The input data is remapped, if needed, responsive to instructions in a configuration file. For example, barcode data may be remapped to predefined ASCII characters. The input data is then communicated to the application program via conventional communications paths compatible with the application program.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking victims of a mass casualty incident includes the steps of: (a) providing a tag to be associated with each victim, each tag containing machine-readable data representing information including at least the victims triage priority; (b) reading the machine-readable data; and (c) displaying the information read in step (b). Each tag may further contain machine-readable data representing information including at least one of (1) an identification code uniquely associated with the victim; (2) name of the victim; (3) the nature of the victim's injuries; (4) the victim's medical condition; (5) the victim's initial treatment; (6) physical characteristics of the victim; (7) the victim's photo; and (8) the location to which the victim was transported or assigned.

Abstract: A packing and shipping verification system and method operates in real-time to virtually eliminate human error. Machine-readable labels are applied to components (e.g., parts) as they are produced. The label on each component is scanned immediately prior to packing into a container thereby allowing a processing unit to verify and record packing operations. Packing errors are reported in real-time so that they are corrected before a label is generated and affixed to the packing container. After container packing is completed, the processing unit causes a label to be generated that is applied to the container in real-time. A similar process is followed when small containers are placed into larger containers. Every operation is verified by machine scanning of the labels. Labels for containers are only generated after proper packing has been verified by the processing unit. Downstream users scan the labels to extract component information.

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.