This is a complimentary chapter from the textbook,Fundamental Critical Care Support: Crisis Management 2022, titled "Disaster Preparation for the Critical Care Provider: Setting the Stage."
Learning Objectives:

• Describe the categories of disasters that may result in the need for expanded critical care services.
• Highlight general principles of the provision of disaster critical care, with particular focus on critical care resources including available intensive care unit (ICU) beds, level of critical care staffing, and availability of necessary equipment, supplies, and medications.
• Identify considerations in surge capacity, including the definitions and indications for move-ment from conventional, contingency, and crisis management
• Describe ways to address psychological, social, and existential distress experienced by patients, families, and providers.
• Discuss how the Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS): Crisis Management course prepares first receivers and critical care providers to care for the critically ill in a disaster setting.