Disaster medicine requires a multidisciplinary approach, similar to a team sport where diverse skills and backgrounds are essential. Ashley E. D. Cain, MD, MScR, a MedPeds-trained physician and a core faculty member of the Harvard Beth Israel Deaconess Disaster Medicine Fellowship, emphasizes the importance of infrastructure in disaster response and recovery, learned from her experiences in Guatemala and Malawi.

• Pediatric Disaster Medicine - World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Fellowship in Disaster Medicine - Harvard Medical School
• Participation of Children and Adolescents in Live Crisis Drills and Exercises - National Library of Medicine

Last year, the healthcare system faced a surge of COVID, influenza, and RSV cases, filling hospitals with children in critical condition. Despite the introduction of a promising new RSV treatment, nirsevimab, its rollout was hampered by supply shortages and logistical challenges. Daniel Dodson, MD, MS, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, explained that the limited supply required careful allocation to high-risk infants, leading to difficult decisions and impassioned pleas from caregivers.

• Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) – FAQs for Healthcare Professionals - Pediatric Pandemic Network
• Nirsevimab Frequently Asked Questions - American Academy of Pediatrics
• Nirsevimab for Prevention of RSV in Healthy Late -Preterm and Term Infants - The New England Journal of Medicine
• Immunizations to Protect Infants - CDC

Nikki Shimko, nurse manager of the Golisano Transport Team and president of the Florida Neonatal Pediatric Transport Network Association, recounts the harrowing experience of evacuating Golisano Children's Hospital during Hurricane Ian. Despite the lack of preparedness leading up to the hurricane, Nikki's team successfully evacuated 81 patients, including 62 neonates, over 160 miles to 15 facilities. The collaborative effort and preexisting networks proved invaluable in ensuring the safety and well-being of the patients, highlighting the importance of planning and relationships in disaster preparedness.

RESOURCES:

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL092022_Ian.pdf

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/story/inside-harrowing-48-hour-rush-evacuate-nicu-babies-90995512

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRpFrX3P8hM