Waterworks, a full-scale chemical exposure exercise: interrogating pediatric critical care surge capacity in an inner-city tertiary care medical center.

Introduction: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) resources are overwhelmed in disaster as the need to accommodate influx of critically-ill children is increased. A full-scale chlorine overexposure exercise was conducted by the New York Institute for All Hazard Preparedness (NYIAHP) to assess the appropriateness of response of Kings County Hospital Center's (KCHC's) PICU surge plan to an influx of critically-ill children. The primary endpoint that was assessed was the ability of the institution to follow the PICU surge plan, while secondary endpoints include the ability to provide appropriate medical management.