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Small Fries, Big Stakes: Pediatric Considerations for Event Planners

Monday, November 9, 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM PST
KEYWORDS: Children and Disaster, Disaster Preparedness, Healthcare and Disasters, Partnerships / Collaboration, Planning, Mitigation Issues, Response Issues

    Speaker(s)

  • Brigitte French, CEM

    UCSF Hub Manager
    Pediatric Pandemic Network
    Vacaville, California, United States

    • Co-Speaker(s)

  • Larissa Chiari-Keith, MPH (she/her/hers)

    Southern CA State Coordinator (WRAP-EM) and PDCOE Liaison (PPN)
    Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management & PPN Pediatric Pandemic Network, California, United States

The World Cup and the Olympics. Taylor Swift and Beyonce concerts. St. Patrick's Day parades in Boston, New York City and Chicago. What do all these occasions have in common? Each one is a special event with thousands of spectators- and at least 25% of them are children. Now imagine- a bomb exploding in the stands during a World Cup match. An active shooter starts firing randomly at a packed concert or festival. A truck plows into the crowds at a holiday parade. Each of these nightmare scenarios has the potential to happen- or has already happened. Are your organizations and communities prepared for a mass casualty incident with an overwhelming number of pediatric victims? Are your emergency management teams prepared to reunify children separated from their parents? This presentation will highlight the differences between children and adults during disasters and stress important aspects every emergency management person should consider when planning for major events during grey sky days.