Pediatric Surge

Pediatric surge is unique due to the specialized equipment and resources needed for pediatric patients. MDH has identified the need for more pediatric education, training, and a Minnesota Pediatric Surge Plan to ensure our state is capable of responding to a statewide pediatric surge disaster.

Minnesota Pediatric Surge Plan

• Pediatric Surge Plan (PDF)
  This plan addresses operations in a statewide response to a pediatric surge incident. 
   

Pediatric Surge Toolkit

Purpose

To prepared individuals, health care facilities, and regional health care coalitions to respond to incidents involving pediatric patients and a surge of pediatric patients.

Introduction

•  
  Pediatric Surge Toolkit Overview (You Tube)
  This 4 minute presentation will walk you through all the materials available in this toolkit and how to use them.

Included in the Toolkit:

• Assessment Tools
• Planning Tools and Templates
• Education and Training Tools
• Exercise Tools and Templates
• Response Tools
   

Assessment Tools

Never had a conversation about pediatric preparedness? Start here! Use these tools as a starting place to determine where your facility or region are in the planning process for a pediatric surge event.

• A Workshop for Pediatric Surge Preparedness (PowerPoint) with Facilitator's Guide (PDF)
  This workshop is intended to start health care facility conversations about pediatric preparedness. Download and modify the slides as needed.
• Preparedness Checklist: Facility (PDF)
• Preparedness Checklist: Regional (PDF)

Planning Tools and Templates

Having assessed where you are, use the tools below to help you create a pediatric surge plan for your health care facility.

• Pediatric Primer (PDF) (updated January 2019) 
  The pediatric primer walks users through all preparedness areas to consider when planning for a pediatric surge event. It will help you create the best response for your facility, large or small.
• Template: Facility Pediatric Surge Plan (Word)
  Use this template to create a pediatric plan or annex for your facility emergency operations plan. It will take you step by step through all considerations discussed in the Pediatric Primer.
• Sample Menu for Pediatric Patients (PDF)
  In an emergency you might lose power. This sample menu provides guidance on how to feed children of all ages with little or no energy.

Education and Training Tools

Want to learn more or train your staff specifically in pediatric surge preparedness? Below are educational materials for disciplines ranging from physician to emergency manager.

• Pediatric Surge Videos
  There are six modules designed for health care facility staff (e.g. nursing, provider, emergency manager). They are: Trauma, Triage and Decontamination, Non-Traumatic Disaster, Crisis Standards of Care, Children with Special Needs, and Operations and Incident Management.
• Training Scenarios for Pediatric Patients (PDF)
  Want your providers to sharpen their skills on pediatric triage and treatment? Work through these scenarios either individually or in small groups.
• Facility Training Matrix (PDF)
  Not sure who should know what? This training matrix will answer your questions.

Exercise Tools and Templates

Ready to exercise your plan? Below you will find material to help you design the right exercise for your facility or region.

• Pediatric Surge Exercise Template Presentation (PowerPoint) with Facilitator’s Guide Template (PDF)
  This is a slide series that is intended to provide you with two tabletop type exercises that allow you and your team to practice pediatric surge scenarios.
• Pediatric Surge Coalition Tabletop Situation Manual (Word)
  This situation manual is ready to download and fill in. Perfect for a coalition exercise or can be modified for a health system.
• Exercise Pediatric Victim Cards (Ohio Hospital Association)
  These cards are designed for actors portraying pediatric victims in a functional or full-scale exercise. Complete with symptoms, physical findings, and other patient information. Could be modified for a tabletop exercise.
  • Trauma - Actor Exercise Assessment Form (PDF)
  • Chemical - Actor Exercise Assessment Form (PDF)
  • Burn - Actor Exercise Assessment Form (PDF)
• Addressing the Needs of Children in Disaster Preparedness Exercises (2nd Edition, 2016)
  Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children. This document contains six different pediatric exercise scenarios appropriate for multiple disciplines/organizations, including: clinics/physician offices/urgent care facilities, emergency management, EMS/fire, hospitals, law enforcement, long term care, public health, and schools/child care centers.

Response Tools

Here are useful materials to use during a pediatric surge event. You can print and use these forms or modify them to work for your facility or region.

• Pediatric Surge Playbook
  Created by The Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management (WRAP-EM), this playbook was designed to provide considerations and potential response strategies for the challenges experienced by healthcare organizations during a pediatric surge. The playbook takes a “just in time” and “how-to” approach in its formatting design to allow for quick reference and use during pediatric surge incidents.
• Pediatric Priorities: Quick Reference for Assessment, Stabilization and Transfer of Pediatric Patients (PDF) (updated January 2019)
  Quick reference for triage, vital signs, airway management and more.
• Pediatric Patient Identification and Tracking Form (PDF)
  Use this form to identify and track pediatric patients during a disaster. Can also aid in family reunification. 
• Pediatric Safe Area
  As discussed in the Pediatric Primer (see Planning Tools above) a Pediatric Safe Area is a place where children not requiring treatment can stay while awaiting family reunification.
  • Pediatric Safe Area Checklist (PDF)
  • Pediatric Safe Area Registry (PDF)
  • Unaccompanied Minor Registration (PDF)
• Behavioral Health and Emergency Preparedness
  Below you will find three handouts useful for staff and caregivers after a pediatric surge event.
  • Psychological First Aid for Disaster Survivors (PDF)
  • Disaster Mental Health for Children (PDF)
  • After a Disaster: Guide for Parents and Caregivers (PDF)

Additional Resources

• Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC)
  Several Toolkits intended for use by health care professionals and caregivers. Topics include: Pediatric Readiness Toolkit, Pediatric Disaster Preparedness Toolkit, Pediatric Equipment Toolkit, Emergency Department Pediatric Performance Measures, and more.
• American Academy of Pediatrics
  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a dedicated website for Children & Disasters. Here you will find training for pediatricians, information for families, Emergency Department Readiness, and an Exercise Resource Kit.
• ASPR/TRACIE Topic Collection: Pediatric/Children
  This topic collection contains resources relevant to general pediatric disaster planning. There are several pediatric sub-categories such as access and functional needs, disaster ethics, family reunification, and more. 
• HHS/ASPR: COVID-19 Resources for Pediatric Healthcare Leaders and Clinicians
  This new website contains information for pediatric health care providers regarding COVID-19 including understand risks, keeping children healthy, treatment of COVID-19 in the pediatric population and managing patient surge. 
  Added 10/20/2021
• Natural Hazards Center: Research Counts Children and Disasters Special Collection
  These articles are intended for a broad audience of public health practitioners, emergency managers, policy makers, caregivers and others interested in the ways children are impacted by disasters. The Tool Index provides web links to CDC, FEMA, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and other organizations’ resources on this topic. 
• MYCepaz (Minnesota Made!)
  A mobile-friendly mental health resource designed by teens for teens to help manage some of life’s daily stressors, such as academics, relationship issues, and family pressures.