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Planning is needed to ensure that children get the care they need during disasters. Children have different responses than adults when exposed to chemical, radiological, or biological terrorist agents and to infectious organisms in an epidemic because of their size and physiology. They also have unique psychological vulnerabilities because of their cognitive development. The EMSC program has encouraged its grantees to become involved in state and local disaster preparedness planning so that children have appropriate services and supports during a disaster. |
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Resources On the Web
Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children
Illinois Department of Public Health and Loyola University Medical Center (not a U.S. government website)
Disaster Preparedness Exercises Addressing the Pediatric Population (not a U.S. government website). This document is a resource for organizations who conduct disaster drills and tabletop exercises. Inclusion of infants and children in disaster drills and exercises is an essential component in preparedness efforts, and can assist in preparing an organization to treat critically ill or injured pediatric patients during an actual disaster or mass casualty incident.
Click here for more resources on the Web.
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Example Practices: Model Programs in Disaster Preparedness
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Pediatric Disaster Toolkit: Hospital Guidelines for Pediatrics During Disasters, 2nd Edition (April, 2006). This toolkit provides hospitals, especially those that do not normally admit children and hospitals that do admit children but do not have Pediatric Intensive Care Services, with useful planning strategies and tools for providing protection, treatment, and acute care for pediatric patients during a disaster. The second edition adds two chapters: Pediatric Hospital Based Disaster Triage and Family Information and Support Center. The document may be downloaded in its entirety or by individual sections.
Click here for more example practices.
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Database Searches
National Library of Medicine PubMed journal article database
Click to search PubMed.
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Family & Caregiver Resources
American Red Cross (not a U.S. government website)
Pediatric Disaster Preparedness Coloring Books (not a U.S. government website). Be Ready 1-2-3 helps children ages 5 to 8 learn about home fires, earthquakes, and winter storms through activities and demonstrations led by "experts" Cool Cat (Home Fires), Ready Rabbit (Winter Storms) and Disaster Dog (Earthquakes). A second coloring book (not a U.S. government website) is also available for children ages 3-10 (and a parent or educator). Helping Children Cope with a Disaster (not a U.S. government website). This 12-page downloadable booklet outlines the steps parents and caregivers can take to prepare for disasters, including how to create a family disaster plan, assemble a disaster supply kit, use support networks, and monitor and limit your family’s exposure to the media. It also describes children’s reactions to disasters at varying ages of development.
Click here for more family & caregiver resources.
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