Emergency drills in a pediatric residency training program

A variety of common pediatric emergencies were created in anesthetized cats to provide pediatric house officers and practicing physicians with an opportunity to refine diagnostic and management skills in a controlled environment under supervision. We describe the format of the animal model drill, outline protocols for stimulating pediatric critical care emergencies, and present preliminary evaluation data from a continuing medical education workshop and from house staff drills regarding the efficacy of the program.