Pediatric Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness: A ... - PHE Home

Quarantine procedures. Quarantine procedures should be a well-established means of
limiting the spread of infection. Quarantine may become an active part of inpatient needs in a
given hazard-related disaster. Children who become ill may require isolation to prevent
spread of disease to other patients and health care providers. The exact nature and severity of
quarantine will depend on the specific hazard involved. Close coordination with the public
health service, CDC, and local poison centers is essential in both the planning and execution
stage.
Staff training. Staff training should include the following:
• Training in use of protective gear.
• Orientation to all aspects of the plan from the disaster site to the emergency
department to hospital floors, as well as to rehabilitation and rebuilding in the
community.
• Staff preparedness for notification, transportation to treatment sites, self preparedness
(emergency packages of personal items), strategies for coping with family demands,
psychological demands, and plans for personal health and hygiene.
• Support for families of health care workers so that the health care workers are
available to provide services.
• Mechanism for tracking resources.
• Media/public communication issues.
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