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“Operation Child-Safe”: A Strategy for Preventing Unintentional Pediatric Injuries at a Hurricane Katrina Evacuee Shelter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Mark A. Brandenburg ,
Mary Beth Ogle ,
Beth A. Washington ,
Mike J. Garner ,
Sue A. Watkins  and
Karin L. Brandenburg
Mark A. Brandenburg*
Affiliation:
Oklahoma Institute for Disaster and Emergency Medicine, Section of Emergency Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa; and Saint Francis Hospital Trauma Emergency Center, Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA Safe Kids Tulsa Area; Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Mary Beth Ogle
Affiliation:
Safe Kids Tulsa Area; Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Beth A. Washington
Affiliation:
Safe Kids Tulsa Area; Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Mike J. Garner
Affiliation:
Safe Kids Tulsa Area; Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Sue A. Watkins
Affiliation:
Trauma Service, Saint Francis Hospital, Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Karin L. Brandenburg
Affiliation:
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA Global Options, Inc., Washington, DC, USA
*
Oklahoma Institute for Disaster and Emergency Medicine University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa Schusterman Center, Room 2B09 4502 East 41st St. Tulsa, OK 74135-2553 USA E-mail: mark-brandenburg@ouhsc.edu
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Abstract

Introduction:

Children represent a vulnerable population, and special considerations are necessary to care for them properly during disasters. Comprehensive disaster responses include addressing the unique needs of children during mass-casualty incidents, such as the prevention of unintentional injuries. Early in the morning of 04 September 2005, approximately 1,600 Hurricane Katrina and/or flood survivors from NewOrleans, including approximately 300 children, arrived at Camp Gruber, an Oklahoma National Guard base in Eastern Oklahoma.

Problem:

The primary function of Camp Gruber to train support personnel for the Oklahoma National Guard. This is not a child-safe environment. It was hypothesized that the camp contained numerous child injury hazards and that these hazards could be removed systematically using local child injury prevention experts, thereby preventing unintentional injuries to the displaced children.

Methods:

On 08 September, “Operation Child-Safe” was launched by the Pediatric Injury Response Team to identify and remove pediatric injury hazards from Camp Gruber. Injury prevention experts from the Safe Kids Tulsa Area (SKTA) Chapter, the closest pediatric injury prevention group in the region, spearheaded the operation. Several visits were required to remove all of the injury hazards that were identified.

Results:

Many hazards were identified and removed immediately, while others were addressed in a formal letter to the Camp Gruber Commander for required consent to implement changes. Hazards identified in the camp included, but were not limited to: (1) dangerous chemicals; (2) choking hazards; (3) open electrical outlets; and (4) missing smoke detectors. Bicycle helmets, car seats, strollers, portable cribs, and other safety-related items were passed out to families in need. A licensed daycare facility also was established in order to give the adult guardians a break from constant supervision. Over the course of one month, only one preventable injury (minor head injury) was reported during camp operations, and this particular injury occurred two days before “Operation Child-Safe” was initiated (Day 3 of camp operations).

Conclusions:

In the aftermath of an event that displaces large numbers of people, it is likely that children will be exposed to numerous injury hazards. Volunteers with expertise in child injury prevention are needed to make an evacuee shelter safer for children.

Keywords

childrendaycareevacuation shelterinjury hazardspediatricspreventionsafety
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 21 , Issue 5 , October 2006 , pp. 359 - 365
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2006

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