Development of Prepositioned Burn Care-specific Disaster Resources for a Burn Mass Casualty Incident.

This article focuses on enhancing disaster preparedness for burn mass casualty incidents (BMCI) by addressing gaps in burn-specific supplies and training for first responders and community hospitals. Through quarterly regional Healthcare Coalition (HCC) meetings in Louisiana, stakeholders identified a critical shortage of burn care dressings and equipment, especially in rural areas, leading to the development of standardized burn care supply kits. These kits, stocked with items such as Silverlon and Hydrogel dressings, fluid replacement supplies, and other essentials, are prepositioned across the state to support surge capacity during BMCIs and are managed through existing emergency response networks like the Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN). While these kits improve immediate response capabilities and may reduce costly patient transfers, the article emphasizes that supplemental supplies and training are only part of a broader strategy needed to manage the complex challenges posed by BMCIs.