Once the exercise is complete or the emergency event has passed, an After Action Report (AAR) must be completed. An AAR is a document that summarizes what happened during the exercise or real event and documents recommendations for improvement. The report contains comments and suggestions from the participants and the observers.
The report should compare what was expected to happen to what actually happened. This can be achieved by answering the following questions:
- Were the resources needed available?
- Were there technical or human communication failures?
- Did the procedures work?
- What actions were taken to overcome obstacles?
The commentary should include what went well, what did not happen as expected, and what unexpected events occurred. Lessons learned and recommendations may include changes to procedures, supply, and/or contracted support services.
After the AAR is complete, it is important that the recommendations are reviewed and changes are made to increase the likelihood that patients can be treated during the emergency.
