Hurricane Rita Causes Evacuation of a Pediatric Burn Center

Abstract

Rapid implementation of a hurricane preparation plan allowed for successful evacuation of a pediatric burn care facility as a Category 4 hurricane rapidly approached. All patients were triaged by acuity, evacuated from the hospital and sent to one of three facilities or home. The triage of the outpatient population (52 patients) was based on the daily wound care and rehabilitation needs of each patient. Twenty-five Hispanic outpatients and their families were evacuated via buses to a Large Animal Clinic located on a University campus. The evacuation team included 9 staff members: nurses, rehabilitation therapists, child life therapist and a physician. The Large Animal Facility was adapted to manage a large number of evacuees who were in need of medical care. The nursing staff met the challenges of the new environment by creating a safe environment for activities of daily living, continuing burn patients' daily plan of care, and utilizing community resources to meet cultural and spiritual needs. A wing of the facility was creatively adapted to a burn outpatient care setting: a tub room was created from a horse shower station, a clinic area was set up adjacent to the tub room, and the kitchen and supply area were in close proximity. Animal feed rooms were transformed into Rehab and Play Therapy rooms. Separate horse stalls were identified as living quarters for patients, families and staff (6 cots to a stall). The overflow evacuees slept on cots lined against the wall in a hallway. The evacuation lasted for six days and necessary ingredients for staff survival were flexibility, common sense, teamwork, unselfishness, ingenuity and a good sense of humor. In summary, nursing played a large role in the success of the outpatient evacuation experience and the lessons learned will be incorporated into the next evacuation plan and will be itemized for your enrichment and enjoyment.