Young Children and Disasters: Health and Safety Notes

• 2022

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About

Children can have strong emotional responses to disasters, showing behaviors like clinginess or irritability. They may not fully understand the situation, so adults must provide reassurance. It's important to limit exposure to media coverage, spend extra time with children, maintain routines, and encourage open discussions about fears. Professional intervention may be necessary in some cases to prevent severe problems. This fact sheet summarizes needs by age 1 to 5 and 5 to 11.

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Tags

Hazard: Everyday Emergency

Audiences: Emergency Managers; Families & Children; Nurses; Physicians

Emergency Management Stage: Response

Keywords: Disasters; Emotions; Psychological Trauma

Institutions: University of California

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The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only. It does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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