Keywords

Disaster, Disaster drill, Disaster drill exercise, Disaster preparedness, Pediatric disaster preparedness

 

Authors

  1. Goodhue, Catherine J. MN, RN, CPNP
  2. Burke, Rita V. PhD, MPH
  3. Chambers, Santiago
  4. Ferrer, Rizaldy R. PhD
  5. Upperman, Jeffrey S. MD, FACS, FAAP

ABSTRACT

Despite increased disaster preparedness training and funding, healthcare organizations remain ill-prepared. Nontraditional approaches should be a focus of disaster training. We conducted a novel pediatric disaster exercise at a children's hospital. We designed 6 specific exercises comprising Disaster Olympix and piloted a Web-based evaluation survey of the exercise. The mean score of the participants' perception of their Disaster Olympix performance was 3.8/5. The mean score of the perception of the utility of Disaster Olympix was 4.3/5. Novel training approaches can be valuable to staff. Nonpediatric hospitals can readily adapt this approach to prepare for pediatric victims.