TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Critical Care of Disaster Victims A1 - Venegas-Borsellino, Carla A1 - Leung, Sharon A1 - Kvetan, Vladimir A2 - Oropello, John M. A2 - Pastores, Stephen M. A2 - Kvetan, Vladimir Y1 - 1 N1 - T2 - Critical Care AB - KEY POINTSMajor natural and manmade disasters have always occurred, but their increasing frequency over the past decade has elevated awareness of the importance of planning and preparing for catastrophic events.The responses of different healthcare systems to major disasters in the past have demonstrated the continued need for a more clearly identified planning process in order to effectively respond to multi-hazard events.The CCM physician should be prepared to provide triage, stabilization, clinical management, teamwork leadership and managing of hospital resources.The goal in mass casualty scenarios is to minimize mortality and morbidity, but an effective response during a disaster situation depends on multiple variables: nature of the incident, number of victims, resources, and the coordination of efforts, among others.Understanding the characteristics of different disasters and predicting their impact on the healthcare system, integrating the principles of the command center, and participating in the local disaster planning process will improve the appropriate response by the critical care physician to disaster situations.Educational efforts are crucial before and after a disaster. Simulation sessions and mock outbreak/disaster exercises must be instituted on a regular base to understand our current level of preparedness, teach personnel how to respond appropriately to these unique situations, predict and be prepared for unexpected events. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1136418040 ER -