Strategies to Improve Pediatric Disaster Surge Response Potential Mortality Reduction and Tradeoffs

The author modeled the potential for disaster mortality reduction with two surge response strategies: 1) control distribution of pediatric disaster victims to avoid hospital overcrowding near the scene, and 2) expand capacity by altering standards of care to only “essential” interventions. Modeling results suggest that the application of these two strategies in combination could decrease pediatric mortality rates in large disasters.