Disaster and Emergency Resources

Disasters Produced by Natural Phenomena
Disasters produced by natural phenomena are sudden ecological events of sufficient magnitude to require external assistance. In recent years, these events have been affecting increasing numbers of people throughout the world. Since 2000, an average of 400 natural disasters a year have occurred worldwide, which is close to twice the occurrence in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Sharing Data is the Key to Unlocking Remdesivir Challenges
Critical care teams should consider using remdesivir to treat patients with severe acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, but supply of the drug is limited and best practices for maximizing its effectiveness are not completely understood.

Concise Critical Appraisal: Planning and Provision of ECMO for Severe ARDS From COVID-19
This Concise Critical Appraisal explores a Lancet Respiratory Medicine article by Ramanathan et al, which outlines how to plan for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) related to COVID-19. ECMO is a complex therapy usually restricted to specialized centers. World Health Organization guidelines suggest that carefully selected patients with ARDS may benefit. The authors explore how good planning can help during outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.

Clinicians Report High Stress in COVID-19 Response
Critical care clinicians are feeling increased personal stress about COVID-19 and are especially worried about infecting loved ones, while also expressing continued concern about personal protective equipment (PPE) and staffing shortages, according to a rapid-cycle survey from SCCM.

SCCM President-Elect to Fast-Track COVID-19 Testing
SCCM's president-elect Greg S. Martin, MD, MSc, FCCM, is among the experts tapped to lead a national effort to super-charge the innovation, development, and commercialization of a COVID-19 testing by fall 2020.