Disaster Planning for Children and Families

1. Disaster Planning for Children and Families Lou Romig MD, FAAP, FACEP Miami Children’s Hospital FL-5 DMAT

2. Best practices? • We’re getting practice • We’ve got little data • Every practice setting is different Just like kids, no plan or policy fits all.

3. Getting a grip • The 9-11 attacks, Katrina and the threat of pandemic flu have skewed our planning processes • The basics must be tackled first and addressed with solid plans.

4. For children, there’s nothing more basic than family.

5. You don’t need a distinct Pediatric Plan if you… Empower and support Families

6. Family Issues • Every day can be a disaster • Strengthen critical community infrastructure to meet the daily needs of children and their caregivers

7. Family Issues • The family is the strongest unit of survival • Personal identification • On each person • Family records • Centralized records (photos, fingerprints, DNA)

8. Family Issues • The family is the strongest unit of survival • Family identification • Begin data collection and identification at the time of first contact with the response system • Develop family identifiers (photos, unique numbers, barcodes)

9. Family Issues • The family is the strongest unit of survival • Keep families together • Shelter families together • Evacuate families together • Take the time to do it right • Optimize existing resources to assist with record-keeping and planning

10. Family Issues • The family is the strongest unit of survival • Reunification in family planning • School and workplace plans • Rendezvous points • Communication plans • Identifying materials as a part of evacuation supplies

11. Family Issues • The family is the strongest unit of survival • Reunification planning by agencies • Assist with integration of documentation systems across agencies • Support appropriate identification record programs • Work with reunification agencies and programs before a disaster occurs

12. Family Issues • Family disaster preparedness isn’t cheap • Encourage preparedness incentives • Insurance discounts • Tax-free days, tax credits(?) • Expand funding programs to help pay for supplies/equipment • Medications/Medical goods • Food/formula • Batteries, flashlights, etc • Community service projects addressing family preparedness

13. Disaster Shelters Family-friendly Family-safe Family-functional

14. Family Issues • Family-friendly shelters • Allow families to remain together and care for each other • Plans consider the special needs of children • Food • Supplies • Hygiene • Activities • Psychological support

15. Family Issues • Family-safe shelters • Healthy environment • Smoke free • Drug/alcohol free • Safety and security • “Child-proofing” • Supervision • Exit/internal security • Ability to isolate children from disturbing situations

16. Family Issues • Family-functional shelters • Information center • Recovery resources available • Access to communication resources • Access to medical care/resources • Child care/supervision • Organize shelter occupants to assist • Utilize community child care workers • Utilize community mental health/child life resources for therapeutic play and psychological guidance for families

17. Family Issues • Psychology: Strength vs. scarring • A culture of disaster preparedness • Make disaster preparedness a part of the way we bring up our children • “Duck and cover”

18. Information about pediatric disaster psychology is abundant.Pediatric mental health programs are not.

19. Family Issues • Psychology: Strength vs. scarring • Parents/caregivers • School personnel • Primary medical care providers • Disaster responders Advocate for stronger mental health systems.

20. Pediatric and Family Disaster Planning Resources • Experienced parents • Family representatives • School-based parent groups • Parents of children with disabilities and special medical/psychological needs • Primary care medical practitioners and professional organizations • Mental health professionals • State EMS for Children programs

21. Pediatric and Family Disaster Planning Resources • Pediatric Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness: A Resource for Pediatricians www.ahrq.gov/research/pedprep/resource.htm • American Academy of Pediatrics “Children and Disasters” website www.aap.org/terrorism • Columbia University National Center for Disaster Preparedness website www.pediatricpreparedness.org/

22. Pediatric and Family Disaster Planning Resources • National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Disaster Planning Initiative www.naccrra.org/disaster/ • National Advisory Committee on Children and Terrorism Recommendations to the Secretary www.bt.cdc.gov/children/recommend.asp • HRSA/MCHB EMS for Children Program website http://bolivia.hrsa.gov/emsc/

23. Pediatric and Family Disaster Planning Resources • FEMA for Kids website www.fema.gov/kids • Ready Kids website www.ready.gov/kids • JumpSTART website www.jumpstarttriage.com

24. Challenges to You • Focus on the basics • Focus on families • Think like a parent • Empower the caregivers to give the care

25. Challenges to You • Recruit the help of child and family advocates • Use the knowledge and experience of others • Collect data!