Summary: On February 6, 2023, two major earthquakes, measuring 7.7 and 7.6, struck Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, triggering widespread devastation across 11 provinces and affecting approximately 14.1 million people, including 4.8 million children. With over 50,000 fatalities and 100,000 severe injuries reported, this disaster underscored the critical need for tailored emergency response protocols for vulnerable populations, particularly children. Under the direction of the Turkish Ministry of Health, a specialized pediatric emergency team, comprising pediatric emergency fellows, specialists, and a pediatric intensivist, was deployed to the earthquake zone. Despite challenging conditions, the team quickly established a triage system, managed a high volume of severely injured children, and addressed life-threatening conditions such as crush syndrome and hyperkalemia. Manual tracking of patients and strategic transfer coordination enabled effective patient flow despite limited resources and adverse weather conditions. Initial interventions prioritized resuscitation, intubation, and dialysis for patients suffering from crush syndrome and associated hyperkalemia-induced arrhythmias. Due to ICU damage, patients were monitored in makeshift spaces, including corridors. Over the course of three days, the team performed intensive fasciotomies, initiated alkali fluid treatments, and facilitated the transfer of approximately 20 patients per day. The response highlighted critical material shortages, fatigue among healthcare personnel, and the necessity of streamlined transfer systems and real-time communication with supporting organizations. This field report highlights the importance of pre-established disaster response teams, including pediatric emergency specialists, nursing support, and essential medical equipment, in addressing pediatric-specific needs during disasters. Effective disaster response for children requires continuous advocacy, specialized training, and coordination with regional authorities to ensure comprehensive care. Lessons from this deployment advocate for scalable, organized, and well-resourced pediatric emergency response systems in disaster-prone regions.
Birbilen et al. (Sun,) studied this question.