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Crisis Response

SCCM assists the critical care community during disasters and emergencies by providing resources and updates.

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The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) monitors current events and regularly activates its crisis response plan. The plan includes releasing complimentary education and resources to help clinicians treat critically ill and injured patients, respond to patient surges, and implement resource allocation strategies. Materials are specific to the emergency at hand, including hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, and other man-made and natural disasters.

Current Response Efforts

Mideast

Mideast

SCCM has reached out to those affected by the recent crisis in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. Free resources are available to help critical care practitioners care for patients during a crisis.

Free Resources
Call for Volunteers on behalf of the Ministry of Health of Israel
Call for Volunteers on behalf of the Palestinian Ministry of Health

Ukraine

Ukraine

SCCM provided medical equipment, supplies, and critical care educational resources to those impacted by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Find links to free education, including book chapters and online modules, and learn how you can support these efforts.

High-Consequence Pathogens

High-Consequence Pathogens

SCCM has developed resources for various high-consequence pathogens.

General Crisis Response Resources

The Society offers several always-free educational resources that may be helpful during a crisis. 

Calls for Volunteers 

SCCM recruits volunteer critical care clinicians to respond to emergency situations of all kinds. A request to organize a call for volunteers must be made by a governmental agent with medical licensure clearance authority. SCCM will then work directly with them to provide the information required and recruit volunteer clinicians from the critical care community. 

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Humanitarian Activities

Humanitarian Activities

SCCM is carrying out humanitarian initiatives to substantially improve the healthcare infrastructure in some of the most underserved areas in the world.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

While respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms that last a week or two, it can also be severe, especially for infants, young children, older adults, and adults with chronic medical conditions. SCCM has made selected modules from its Pediatric Fundamental Critical Care Support (PFCCS) and Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) courses available via open access for healthcare professionals and nonintensivists who may benefit from critical care training.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan

SCCM has reached out to contacts in Afghanistan and offers these free resources to help during natural disasters.

Acute Flaccid Myelitis

Acute Flaccid Myelitis

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a rare, life-threatening neurologic condition that affects mostly children and can lead to permanent paralysis. Patients with AFM have sudden onset of acute flaccid limb weakness without a known cause and with lesions in gray matter of the spinal cord. In the United States, AFM has peaked every two years between August and November since 2014, likely due to enteroviruses. Case increases, mostly in young children, were reported in 2014, 2016, and 2018. Clinicians should continue to be vigilant and send information about patients who meet the clinical criteria and laboratory and imaging criteria for AFM to their health department regardless of laboratory results.

Maui Wildfires

Maui Wildfires

SCCM is monitoring the effects of the Maui wildfires and is poised to offer support. Access free resources to help during natural disasters. 

Türkiye-Syria Earthquake

Türkiye-Syria Earthquake

SCCM responded to the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that occurred in Türkiye and Syria in February 2023 by providing access to free disaster resources.