Chapter 11 : Unique needs of children during disasters and other public health emergencies

ABSTRACT

Infants, children, and adolescents have unique physiological and psychosocial needs during and after disasters and public health emergencies. The injury and illness patterns following exposure to nuclear biological, and chemical agents may be different from those patterns assessed in adults. Treatment options for adults may be inappropriate, or unavailable for children. Children with special health care needs also requiere refinements to their care. Nurses and health care professionals must be aware of pediatric considerations during disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, and evaluation efforts, and must be prepared to modify their approaches accordingly. This chapter discusses the epidemiology of disasterrelated injuries and illnesses in pediatric population. The physiological and psychosocial aspects of children applicable to disaster and public health emergencies are described. Injury and illness patterns following natural, explosion, nuclear, biological, and chemical disasters are discussed, and current treatments recommendations are offered. Interventions from field through emergency department and hospitalization care addressed. Pediatric-related rescourses for disaster planning are included (AU)