Multiple functional systems are integrated to configure a portable handheld decision-aid device for first responder medics. Fuzzy membership functions of “life” and “death” are used to determine the status of fallen people using remote measurements. EO/IR cameras can be used to detect and identify casualties in a mass injury situation, while also estimating body temperature. Using the temperature, along with the remote estimation of a second vital sign, the life membership proportion can be estimated from the ground truth by using a 2D projection of stable vital signs. The other fuzzy membership function, death, can be estimated by the presence or absence of peri-mortem and post-mortem molecules. These molecules are only released after death and provide a certain indication of death. Solid state UV laser resonance Raman backscattering from these molecules allows the device to analyze the molecules present in a plume around the casualty.