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

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian's unexpected Category 5 landfall in Florida, the evacuation of Golisano Children's Hospital became a critical operation, highlighting the challenges and heroism of transport medicine teams. Phyllis Hendry, MD, FAAP, FACEP, a key figure in pediatric emergency care and transport services, sheds light on the complexities of pediatric transport, the necessity of community-based response, and the lessons learned from this harrowing event.

REASOURCES:

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

Stephanie Chan, MPH, a research associate, discusses the vital role of youth as community health workers (CHWs) in bridging gaps in public health. By training and empowering youth aged 16 to 19, they become relatable ambassadors within their communities, tackling issues like vaccine hesitancy and misinformation surrounding COVID-19.

• COVID-19–Associated Orphanhood and Caregiver Death in the United States - American Academy of Pediatrics
• Community Health Workers - American Public Health Association
• Communicating Science Effectively: A Research Agenda - National Library of Medicine

Becky Platt, ACP and volunteer with UK Med, shares her experiences providing medical aid to children in various parts of the world, notably focusing on her time in the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh during a diphtheria outbreak.

• Refugee Camp
• Real-time analysis of the diphtheria outbreak in forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh - National Library of Medicine
• Diphtheria - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Ethical Obligations Regarding Short-Term Global Health Clinical Experiences: An American College of Physicians Position Paper - Annals of Internal Medicine
• Ethical Conduct of Humanitarian Medical Missions

Derrick Tin, MD, describes a political rally interrupted by a suicide bombing in Pakistan, resulting in numerous casualties. The episodes includes insights from Tin’s expertise in disaster and counterterrorism medicine and the challenges of triage systems in disaster situations, emphasizing the need for evidence-based approaches and mental health support for responders.

• Counter Terrorism Medicine - World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine
• Rethinking Mass-Casualty Triage - National Center for Biotechnology Information
• Hybrid warfare and counter-terrorism medicine - National Center for Biotechnology Information
• Counter-Terrorism Medicine - ScienceDirect



Christina Hernon, MD, FAAEM, an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist, shares her experience as a spontaneous responder during the Boston Marathon bombing. The story highlights the often overlooked role of spontaneous responders and emphasizes the need for better preparation, debriefing, and support for those who find themselves thrust into such situations.

• The Immediate Responder & The Disaster Gap
• The Impromptu Immediate Responder- Christina Hernon
• The Initial Response to the Boston Marathon Bombing - National Library of Medicine
• Emergency Communications Case Study: Emergency Communications August 2013 During the Response to the Boston Marathon Bombing - U.S. Department of Homeland Security