Tabletop Exercise (TTX) Toolkit

Background

What is a tabletop exercise?

A TTX is a facilitated discussion, conducted in a controlled setting. It allows participants to collaboratively address challenges and solve problems that may arise during an emergency scenario, based on their existing plans.
It is NOT meant to be a planning or training session, but rather a tool to evaluate and revise policies, plans, and procedures.

Why conduct a tabletop exercise?

Tabletop exercises help organizations build capability, evaluate emergency response and business continuity plans, and identify strengths and areas for improvement. They offer staff the opportunity to simulate their roles and responsibilities during an incident, subsequently strengthening their preparedness and awareness. These exercises are cost-effective and provide a low-stress environment for learning and refining response strategies.

How long is a tabletop exercise?

Typically lasting 1-4 hours, tabletop exercises are flexible to allow participants time to have discussions and make informed decisions without minimal pressure. Although finding a “perfect” time to conduct a tabletop exercise can be challenging, ensuring maximum participation is crucial for promoting appropriate and effective engagement.

Flexibility Statement

This TTX toolkit is designed with adaptability in mind, catering to the unique needs of pediatric facilities. It offers a wide range of realistic emergency scenarios, customizable exercise structures, and control over the exercise’s pace and flow. The toolkit encourages continuous improvement through post-exercise analysis and debriefing.

Confidentiality

The exercise may address sensitive issues and include detailed response plans and potential limitations. Both planners and participants must handle exercise-related information with sensitivity. Information pertaining to the exercise must not be reproduced or disclosed without explicit consent from organization leadership. All written or typed material created during the planning and execution of the tabletop exercise should be treated as sensitive.