PONE-D-20-36599

Development of the Aerial Remote Triage System: Result of a survey of international experts

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Lopez-Franco,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

It is an interesting study. However, there are some important shortcomings. Please, consider the proposal of reviewer 1: It would be greatly appreciated if the authors would film at least a small number of actors with a drone as a scenario, so that experts may make their decisions. Such an additional part should be carried out and incorporated into the work. I hope you are willing to do so.

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We look forward to receiving your revised manuscript.

Kind regards,

Hans-Peter Simmen, M.D., Professor of Surgery

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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'SCA AND JMLH are founders of Emergency Medical Drone cooperative'

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

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Reviewer #1: Partly

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: This investigation is concerned with an important point in developing a system for dealing with a mass casualty. An expert survey should clarify whether it makes sense to carry out a triage on the use of drones.

The data analysis used includes the essential databases, but too few search terms are used. The search terms terrorist attack, earthquake, poison attack and the like should also be used here.

It is also unclear how the questionnaire was created. For this purpose, the material and methods must be used to specify how the questionnaire was created.

In the end, only a survey of experts was carried out, the results were clearly summarized in a table. So it is ultimately a piece of literature and an expert survey. a statistical scientific evaluation was not carried out. In particular, no experimental study was carried out. Here one could have imagined showing the experts various pictures with injury patterns (actors, filmed by the drone) in order to determine to what extent the proposed triage is sensible and possible. such an experimental part should be reworked.

Reviewer #2: Thanks for this interesting paper. Its a step into the right direction to get a better overview in some mass-casualty incidents! I was amazed that the experts did not agree in the sequence of assignment of priority, for me, it is a simple a clear sequence. And as you wrote already, the triage should be mad as simple as possible.

The expert point of making the process more human in broadcasting the image is not a high priority in this situation, the additionally weight should be better used, for example to transport necessary equipment to the scene.

There is always a discussion about spinal injury and mobilization of a patient (statement 9).... But if you don't put hin in recovery position, he will be dead (maybe with or without paralysis, but he well be dead). -> If in doubt, put in recovery position ("life before limb").

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Development of the Aerial Remote Triage System using drones in mass casualty scenarios:  a survey of international experts

PONE-D-20-36599R1

Dear Dr. Lopez-Franco,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Hans-Peter Simmen, M.D., Professor of Surgery

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments: