BUSH KIT WITH A.D.A.M.S. SIMULATION IN WHAPMAGOOSTUI

The Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (CBHSSJB) joins forces with ResusMind, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Canadian Red Cross (CRC) and Cree Trappers Association (CTA) to improve emergency care with a Bush Kit that combines traditional knowledge and innovative technology.

A simulation was held at the Whapmagoostui Cultural Camp, providing an environment that reflected realistic conditions, during crisis in the bush. The goal was to evaluate A.D.A.M.S. effectiveness in field emergencies scenarios, as the challenges of space healthcare and remote indigenous communities are similar.

A.D.A.M.S. was originally designed as an advanced medical support system for astronauts. It features a suite of medical protocols, procedures, and decision support tools.

Prior to the exercise, there were significant changes to the A.D.A.M.S. system to accommodate the Bush Kit content, including technical development, content creation, and user interface. This involved translating paper-based protocols into dynamic digital formats and creating medical illustrations to support procedures.

Present were CTA members, local healthcare providers, translators and partner observers. Participants were given training, necessary medical supplies and technology to test out the emergency response application while observers collected data and feedback.

The simulation revealed several challenges that provided valuable guidance for future implementations. It also demonstrated numerous successes that validate the potential of this collaboration, notably the technological reliability in remote settings, superior information access, user-friendly interface and cross-cultural integration.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The collaboration continues and four phases have been identified to reach full implementation:

1.      System refinement: complete interface improvement, expand content integration, conduct scientific verification

2.      Bush Kit 2.0: redesign bush kit, create smartphone-compatible application, develop training program

3.      Field testing: test with hunters, refine system based on results

4.      Full implementation: deploy across Cree communities, integrate with regional CMCs, continuously evaluate and improve

This project proves collaboration can make way for innovations that benefit all parties and, in time, the population. In addition to creating opportunities for each, whether it be as a space agency, humanitarian organization or indigenous health and social services organization, to inform and improve one another.

For a deeper dive into this topic, you may read the Cree Bush Kit Adaptation Report.