Hospital-based disaster preparedness for pediatric patients: how to design a realistic set of drill victims.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this report is to describe an innovative idea for hospital pediatric victim disaster planning. DESIGN: This is a descriptive manuscript outlining an innovative approach to exercise planning. SETTING: All hospitals. PATIENTS In this report, we describe a model set of patients for pediatric disaster simulation. RESULTS: An epidemiologically based set of mock victims. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that by enhancing pediatric disaster simulation exercises, hospital personnel and decision makers will be better prepared for an actual disaster event involving pediatric victims.