Preliminary pragmatic lessons from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic from France

Gauss, Tobias; Pasquier, Pierre; Joannes-Boyau, Olivier; Constantin, Jean-Michel; Langeron, Olivier; Bouzat, Pierre; Pottecher, Julien

Abstract The first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic required an unprecedented and historic increase in critical care capacity on a global scale in France. Authors and members from the ACUTE and REANIMATION committees of the French Society of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care (SFAR) wished to share experience and insights gained during the first weeks of this pandemic. These were summarised following the World Health Organisation Response Checklist and detailed according to the subsequent subheadings: 1. Command and Control, 2. Communication, 3. Safety and Security, 4. Triage, 5. Surge Capacity, 6. Continuity of essential services, 7. Human resources, 8. Logistics and supply management, 9. Training/Preparation, 10. Psychological comfort for patients and next of kin, 11. Learning and 12. Post disaster recovery. These experience-based recommendations, consensual across all members from both committees of our national society, establish a practical framework for medical teams, either spared by the first wave of severe COVID patients or preparing for the second one.