Thankfully, this was only a two-day training exercise conducted in the frame of the SAFE project (satellite for health early warning and for epidemiology), part of the ESA approach to understanding users' needs and developing tools adapted to those needs. With this knowledge, ESA wishes to support a user-driven strategy allowing for a joint effort in Europe and an improved efficiency for interventions in the event of natural disasters and for post-crisis management.
Control and coordination centre
Crete is liable to be affected by earthquakes, which is why it was chosen for the demonstration of a system that can be used for emergency response coordination as well as for understanding the health situation and monitoring for epidemics.
The response of the rescue teams was tested as they were communicating via a satellite network at various sites on Crete, such as a power plant, a beach and a hotel. A dialogue was set up with voice and video between the teams on site and a centre for control and coordination in downtown Heraklion. This allowed for a quick assessment of the means needed to set up and facilitate the process of intervention.
Casualty treatment station
On the second day after the earthquake and its emergency management by local authorities, a scenario involving an epidemiological threat was staged. Analysis of victims sheltered in a camp quickly made it obvious there was a threat of gastroenteritis.
Thanks to the satellite, specialised doctors - although far away, either in Heraklion or even in Athens - could immediately help the teams on site. The first help provided was to understand the nature of the epidemic and treat the patients when the first symptoms were exhibited. Secondly, assistance was provided to determine the origin of the epidemic and take the necessary measures to stop the problem from spreading.
The demonstration showed that space can contribute to faster and more efficient rescue and assistance in the field, taking advantage of the expertise of specialists from distant locations and offering the possibility of raising alerts in the event of epidemiological risks.
Co-funded by ESA and coordinated by MEDES (Institut de Médecine et de Physiologie Spatiales), in partnership notably with the Greek Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH), the SAFE pilot project is a good illustration of the added value of satellites - with the service provided by space answering the needs on the ground.
