Casualty collection points optimization: a study for the District of Columbia

Abstract

A casualty collection point (CCP) is a single, predetermined location that is organized, staffed, and equipped to provide decontamination (if required), emergency medical assessment, treatment, and, where necessary, onward transportation of victims of a mass casualty incident. Emergency planners in the District of Columbia have recognized the desirability of developing a tool to assist planners in selecting CCPs within the affected area following a major incident. We develop a CCP optimization model (CCPOM) that provides planners and policymakers with strategic and operational insights into the complex problem of selecting optimal CCP locations to maximize casualty throughput for a range of incident parameters. Even more relevant, the CCPOM determines the utilization of personnel, decontamination units, and ambulances, providing planners with a general structure for resource allocation and signaling shortfalls that may lead to bottlenecks in casualty processing at the CCPs. District planners found many nonintuitive CCPOM results to be significant to their planning, programming, and budgeting efforts, and now consider the model’s categorized resource utilization to be an integral part in updating District plans for both national special security event planning and everyday events.