The Role of Surgeons in Pediatric Disaster Management

Opinion statement Children represent a significant proportion of the population at risk for injury from a disaster or a terrorist attack. In the USA, the pediatric population represents approximately 24% of the total population, an estimated 74 million children (Clin Pediatr Emerg Med. 2014;15(4):309–317). Unique anatomic, physiologic, and psychological differences in this population make them vulnerable to injury, mortality, and long-lasting morbidity following multi-casualty events. Adequate disaster preparedness requires a team approach, which starts locally at the scene of the disaster, but can also extend and include national and international partnerships. Leaders who have experience in disaster management are the foundation to this framework and can actively prepare for disasters. Surgeons are uniquely qualified to fit this role and also possess the capability to treat patients and assist in efforts to restore infrastructure following national and international disasters. Given the proportion of pediatric patients that are often involved in multi-casualty incidents, pediatric surgeons are experts in an area where specialized training has been shown to improve outcomes. Pediatric surgeons can and should play a critical role in disaster management—their expertise and training make them uniquely qualified to advocate for the specific needs of the pediatric population.