When there is a widespread disaster situation, kids are usually the group of people that get the most effected. Whether it’s a natural disaster like a hurricane or a man-made emergency, kids need special care and attention. PALS class can help a lot in preparing the public and the health professionals to care for children during a disaster. Read on to learn more.
Why is Pediatric Disaster Preparedness Important?
Children aren’t just small adults. They have unique needs in emergencies:
- Physical differences: Kids’ bodies work differently than adults. They breathe faster, lose body heat quicker, and are more likely to get dehydrated.
- Emotional needs: Disasters can be very scary for kids. They need extra emotional support.
- Dependency: Children rely on adults for food, shelter, and safety. Disasters often mean that the children lose their caregivers or may get separated.
- Communication: Young children might not be able to tell rescuers what’s wrong or what they need.
- Medical needs: Some kids have special health needs that require extra planning.
What Are The Areas of Pediatric Disaster Preparedness?
There are many different areas where pediatric disaster preparedness can be implimented. Here are a few–
- Emergency Supplies for Kids
Pediatric preparedness starts with having the right emergency supplies and having enough of them. These are the items that you must have in a disaster emergency kit:
- Food and water: Pack easy-to-eat foods that don’t need cooking. Remember baby formula if needed.
- Clothes: Include extra clothes and blankets.
- Medications: Bring any medicines your child takes regularly. To keep these medications well-organized and easily accessible, consider using Ikigai Cases, a pill organizer that can help store and manage your child’s medicine effectively.
- Comfort items: Pack a favorite toy or book to help calm kids.
- Diapers and wipes: For babies and toddlers.
- First aid kit: Make sure it has child-specific items like pediatric dosing for medicines.
- Planning for Evacuation
If you need to leave your home quickly, have a plan ready:
- Know your evacuation routes
- Set a place with your family before hand where the family can gather.
- Practice your plan with your kids
- Pack a “go bag” with essential items
- Know how to get in touch with your child’s school or daycare
- Mental Health Support
Disasters can be very upsetting for kids. Here’s how to help:
- Talk to children about what’s happening in simple terms
- Listen to their fears and concerns
- Keep routines as normal as possible
- Limit exposure to scary news or images
- Watch for signs of stress or trauma
- Medical Care in Disasters
Healthcare for kids during disasters needs special planning:
- Know how to treat common injuries in children
- Understand how to adjust medicine doses for kids
- Be ready to help children with chronic health conditions
- Know where to find pediatric care in your area
- Learn basic first aid for kids
- Reunification Planning
Sometimes families get separated during disasters. Here’s how to prepare:
- Teach kids important phone numbers and addresses
- Have a out-of-area contact person everyone knows to call
- Make sure schools have updated emergency contact info
- Consider ID bracelets for young children
- Know your community’s plan for reuniting families
How Does PALS Class Help In Disaster Preparedness?
Taking a Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) class can be very helpful for disaster preparedness. PALS teaches how to help children in serious medical emergencies. In a disaster, these skills can save lives. Many disaster response teams require PALS certification for their members who work with children. Read on to know more about disasters that can affect children and take care of them better.
What Are Some Special Considerations for Different Types of Disasters?
Different disasters need different types of preparation:
- Hurricanes and Floods:
- Have a way to purify water
- Know how to prevent waterborne illnesses in kids
- Keep a plan ready to head to the higher land
- Earthquakes:
- The kids should know to drop to the ground, take cover and wait or hold on
- Secure heavy furniture that could fall
- Know how to shut off gas and water
- Wildfires:
- Have masks to protect from smoke
- Know evacuation routes
- Keep important documents in a fire-safe box
- Winter Storms:
- Have warm clothes and blankets ready
- Know how to prevent hypothermia in children
- Have a way to heat food without electricity
- Pandemics:
- Teach good hand washing
- Have masks that fit children
- Learn how you can care for ill children when you might also be sick
Who Should Get Training for Pediatric Disaster Response?
To be really prepared, we need to train people how to help kids in disasters:
- For Parents and Caregivers:
- Offer classes on pediatric first aid and CPR
- Teach how to make family emergency plans
- Show how to build emergency kits for kids
- For Healthcare Workers:
- Provide training on treating kids in disaster situations
- Teach how to adapt adult treatments for children
- Offer courses on helping kids cope emotionally
- For Teachers and School Staff:
- Train on how to keep kids safe during emergencies
- Learn the unique ways that need to be used to help children wit special needs during crisis
- Show how to communicate with parents during emergencies
- For Community Volunteers:
- Offer basic training on helping kids in disasters
- Teach how to recognize signs of stress in children
- Show how to help reunite families
- For Kids Themselves:
- Teach basic safety skills in an age-appropriate way
- Learn how to get or reach out for help
- Practice what to do in different types of disasters
Conclusion
Preparing for disasters with children in mind is a big job, but it’s so important. By thinking ahead and making plans, we can help keep kids safe and healthy even in the toughest times. From parents and teachers to doctors and community leaders, everyone has a role to play. Enrolling in a PALS class will help you do just that.
