Pediatric Disaster Preparedness: What Do We Do Next?/In Reply

On the basis of current events, it was quite exciting to review the American Academy of Pediatrics technical report entitled The Pediatrician and Disaster Preparedness in the February 2006 issue of Pediatrics.1 In the report, Drs Markenson and Reynolds, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Task Force on Terrorism, succinctly reviewed issues for the pediatrician with respect to disaster, terrorism, and public health emergency preparedness. The first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the predicted severity of this year's tropical season, and the nearly daily reminders of the threat of terrorism should serve to remind us all that disaster planning remains a great priority and, furthermore, an area with great opportunity for improvement. Through the Emergency Medical Services for Children program, Illinois pediatricians have partnered with others in developing education tools, medication and equipment standards, and treatment guidelines that have promoted pediatric emergency readiness and improved the delivery of pediatric care.