Efficient communication during rescue operations and emergency management
With EU funding, the ESENET (Emergency services Europe network) project set out to establish a network of key emergency management actors to identify, discuss and agree on needs, requirements, new technologies and best practices. Overall, the aim was to respond to both major and everyday emergencies. An EU-wide network was created, bringing together about 60 members from emergency services, public authorities and industries that promote products and services in emergency management. The network identified gaps in the emergency service provision chain, collected user requirements, selected available and/or promising technologies for tackling the identified challenges. It also pinpointed areas for further research. Project partners analysed and discussed fundamental concepts like accessibility, IP-based emergency systems, data interoperability, emergency radio communication, social media use in emergency management and control room robustness. Findings led to 180 unique recommendations to assist the EC, Member States and emergency services in reducing or removing the interoperability gaps that exist today. Topics include improving the interoperability and availability of public safety answering points, establishing data exchange protocols between emergency services to improve data exchange with each other, harmonising public warning systems and improving cross-border cooperation during emergencies. The recommendations were presented in the form of 10 use cases or 'Top Stories'. Each 'Top Story' introduces a topic's relevance for citizens and society overall, presents and discusses identified gaps and recommendations, as well as the intended actions and actors that are expected to meet the challenges. ESENET helped to enhance current systems towards a common European vision for emergency services. It also provided an outlook on what tomorrow's emergency services should provide for a safer and more secure Europe.
Keywords
Rescue operations, emergency management, ESENET, emergency services