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Prioritizing Pediatric Preparedness During National Preparedness Month

Published September 01, 2023
September marks National Preparedness Month, serving as a reminder to recognize the importance of preparing for potential disasters and emergencies. This highlights the pressing need to incorporate all children and teenagers into these preparedness strategies.

The Pediatric Pandemic Network focuses its efforts on ensuring all children and adolescents are an integral part of preparedness, from family emergency plans to hospital drills, to everyday conversations with parents. 

Why pediatric preparedness matters

Children and adolescents make up 25% of the United States population. Kids are not just small adults; they have unique needs when it comes to disasters. Those needs aren’t always included in emergency planning. Research shows people under 18 are more vulnerable than other demographics to negative, long-lasting impacts after disasters.

Effects on kids can include:

  • Physical health issues: Studies have shown that children who experienced a natural disaster had an increased chance of acute illnesses (diarrhea, fever, respiratory problems).
  • Mental health problems: As many as 50% of children say they have experienced post-traumatic stress, depression symptoms, anxiety, and other related issues after a disaster.
  • Impacts on school attendance and learning: During disasters, many schools are forced to close, causing children to lose days or weeks of learning time. Some children exposed to trauma experience changes in brain function, affecting how well they can learn.

Health disparities impact the pediatric population, too. Planners should ensure equity is at the heart of preparedness.

Many organizations and agencies offer guidance on including children in emergency and disaster planning.

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