Arkansas
Contact: Kristin Lyle, MD, FAAP
E-mail:
LyleKristinC@uams.edu
The Arkansas AAP Chapter is in the process of developing a Web site that will warehouse disaster preparedness and response information, as well as volunteer opportunities for all physicians and healthcare providers. Initially, this site will be linked to the Arkansas Children's Hospital Web site and will be accessible to all state AAP members. Plans are to launch this site in September during disaster preparedness month.
Arkansas coordinates an annual statewide preparedness conference. At the 4th annual conference in 2007, all Arkansas AAP Chapter members were invited. More than 600 individuals attended, including several AAP members.
Louisiana
Contact: Jimmy Guidry, MD, FAAP
E-mail:
jguidry@dhh.la.gov
Contact: Gina LaGarde, MD
E-mail:
gplagard@bellsouth.net
Children have remained on the radar screen in Louisiana Disaster planning. Highlights of those efforts include:
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Ensuring that a pediatric formulary and medical supplies for children are available at all shelters (including those shelters that serve children with special needs). |
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Putting a bus triage plan in place along with a system for providing bar-coded wrist bands to help families remain together. |
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Initial planning for a public and professional education campaign. |
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Use of the LA Volunteers in Action Emergency Volunteer Registry, which is Web-based. |
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Plan to provide emergency preparedness training volunteers enrolled in the above-mentioned registry. |
New Mexico
Contact: Robert Sapien, MD, FAAP
E-mail:
rsapien@salud.unm.edu
The New Mexico AAP Chapter disaster preparedness initiatives are integrated with Chapter activities on emergency medicine. Robert Sapien, MD, FAAP is a member of the national AAP Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine and is active in the New Mexico Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMS-C) Program. The EMS-C Program advocates for children on an ongoing basis with respect to education, emergency care, preparedness, and prevention efforts. The program also develops and conducts educational sessions and disseminates materials on pediatric emergency topics. In June 2007 a dedicated Pediatric Emergency Department was opened at University Hospital. The physician staff consists of seven Pediatric Emergency physicians and several general emergency medicine physicians. Program representatives serve on several committees of the New Mexico Department of Health (Trauma Advisory Committee, EMS Advisory Committee, and EMS Medical Direction) to ensure that children's issues are integrated into these efforts. The New Mexico Department of Health has also established a "Health Alert" e-mail system for health care providers. This is a quick way to send out notifications of public health situations statewide.
Oklahoma
Contact: J.W. Hendricks, MD, FAAP, Chapter President
E-mail:
jwh@pac.pcc.com
Dr Hendricks is reaching out to the Department of Health, and specific disaster preparedness initiatives are still under consideration.
Texas
Contact: pending
E-mail: pending
A subcommittee has reviewed a SWOT analysis of the facility and transport capabilities in the state. A Pediatric Disaster Coalition has been meeting since the beginning of last year. The group is comprised of representatives from the pediatric designated facilities and pediatric transport teams within FEMA Region 6. Other facilities within Texas that have pediatric capability have been asked to participate as well. This group meets about once a month and initial efforts focus on preparing for another hurricane by determining guidelines/strategies for evacuating pediatric hospital patients. The Governor's EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) established a Disaster Task Force for hurricane evacuation issues. These efforts led to the development of a group that could address the pediatric-specific issues in a disaster situation. Lori Upton at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston currently oversees these efforts.
