Section outline

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    About the Content

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    • The focus area session recordings supplement the Pediatric Disaster Response Playback Series based on the Disaster Response Collaborative. Disaster planning and response prioritizes select domains in the Checklist of Essential Pediatric Considerations for Every Hospital’s Disaster Policies (known as the EIIC Disaster Checklist). Having plans and protocols for evacuation, pediatric surge capacity, pediatric patient tracking and family reunification, and triage/infection control/decontamination is most effective in increasing readiness to respond to disasters impacting children.

      Triage/Infection Control/Decontamination

      This topic area includes three distinct but related pediatric disaster strategies. 

      Triage: Effective triage is utilized both in the prehospital setting during primary triage and in the hospital during secondary triage. See JUMPStart, a Pediatric Triage Algorithm.

      Infection Control: Approaches provide a framework for preventing transmission of infectious agents, including any “special pathogens” considered to be highly transmissible and capable of causing severe disease. Hospital personnel must be prepared to quickly identify patients possibly infected with a special pathogen, isolate the patient to minimize transmission, and inform key clinical, infection prevention, and public health stakeholders.

      Decontamination: Rapid, life-saving, clinical care for patients with chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) exposures is essential. Hospital emergency departments need plans for timely, successful decontamination of pediatric patients. Effective decontamination also reduces the risk of secondary contamination of other patients and hospital staff.

    • Explore the Other Focus Areas, View Session Recordings
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    Review TICD Priorities, Gaps in Planning, and Prepare for Drills and Exercises

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      Learning Objectives
      1. Review priorities for Triage, Infection Control, and Decontamination (TICD) discussion topics.
      2. Identify gaps in planning for TICD.
      3. Strengthen emergency operations plans and related annexes.
      4. Prepare for drills and exercises for updated plans.
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    Key Takeaways from TICD Overview Session

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      Learning Objectives
      1. Identify lessons learned and best practices from real-world events.
      2. Identify considerations and gaps in decontamination planning for children & youth with special health care needs.
      3. Identify available resources to support chemical incident preparedness and response.
      4. Identify priorities for future TICD sessions.
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    Reaffirm Understanding of Isolate-Identify-Inform Process and Strengthen Plans, Protocols, and Training

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      Learning Objectives
      1. Reaffirm understanding of the frameworks used: isolate-identify-inform process in emergency management and hierarchy of controls.
      2. Conduct a practical, interactive simulation to find opportunities to identify gaps and strengthen your plans, processes, and training.
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    Pediatric Decontamination: Improvement Strategies and Tools

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      Learning Objectives
      1. Describe pediatric decontamination strategies.
      2. Identify steps for improvement specific to decontamination in your facility.
      3. Review tools to use when planning for exposures to CBRN agents.
      4. Identify resource gaps and needs to complete preparedness activities.
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    Tools and Strategies for Effective Hospital Decontamination Operations

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      Learning Objectives
      1. Discuss policies, exercises, and resources for decontamination.
      2. Summarize options on how a statewide healthcare coalition can support statewide exercises and instructor training.
      3. Identify strategies for how hospitals and healthcare coalitions can work together to support pediatric disaster planning and response.
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    Are You Ready? Strengthening Hospital Readiness for Respiratory Illness Surges

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      Learning Objectives
      1. Describe the key epidemiologic factors that contribute to infectious disease surges and the importance of early information sharing and education.
      2. Identify emergency department triggers and indicators that signal escalation across hospital readiness zones (green, yellow, red, and beyond).
      3. Explain the roles and responsibilities of leadership and clinical teams at each surge level, including coordination of communication and resource allocation.
      4. Discuss best practices for optimizing hospital capacity and maintaining bed availability during high-demand periods.
      5. Review strategies implemented by children’s hospitals during the 2022 viral respiratory surge (tridemic) as outlined in Hospital Pediatrics, and apply lessons learned to future preparedness planning.
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    Enhancing Readiness for Hospital CBRN Response

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      Learning Objectives
      1. Emphasize the importance of ensuring adequate pediatric countermeasures as a component of CBRN preparedness and response for hospital pharmacies.
      2. Describe available funding sources for CBRN preparedness in hospitals, including tips and resources for strengthening funding applications.
      3. Encourage session participants to share stories of impact resulting from DRC participation, including lessons learned and best practices in preparedness activities.
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    From Protocols to Impact: Strengthening Pediatric Disaster Response Across the Spectrum of Child Health Needs

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      Learning Objectives
      1. Identify key considerations in pediatric response to hazardous exposures—including CBRN, decontamination, and infectious diseases—with attention to the needs of children and youth with special healthcare needs and medical complexity.
      2. Describe strategies to strengthen hospital readiness for pediatric decontamination and infectious disease events, including adaptations required to safely care for children and youth with special healthcare needs and medical complexity.
      3. Highlight practice changes and impacts resulting from participation in the collaborative, including improvements in disaster preparedness and response for children with diverse medical needs.