Strategies and Tools for Meeting the Needs of Children: Public Health Emergencies

Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the Needs of Children

Slide Presentation by Irwin Redlener, M.D., F.A.A.P.

On January 11, 2006,  Dr. Redlener made a presentation in a Web Conference entitled Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the Needs of Children. This is the text version of Dr. Redlener's slide presentation. Select to access the PowerPoint® slides (5.5 MB).

Slide 1

Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the Needs of Children

Irwin Redlener, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Professor of Clinical Public Health and Pediatrics
Director, The National Center for Disaster Preparedness
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
and
President, The Children's Health Fund

Slide 2

Special Vulnerabilities of Children to Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, and Nuclear Agents (CBRNE)

Not just "little adults":

• Lower breathing zones and more rapid respiratory rates.
• Greater skin surface and permeability.
• Greater propensity to dehydration, shock.
• Need special treatment, management protocols.
• Quote, dependent, unquote.
• Suffer varying mental health effects.

Slide 3

How Are Children Exposed to Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, and Nuclear Agents (CBRNE) Materials?

• Unintentionally:
  • Industrial accidents; e.g, chemical leaks, nuclear reactor accidents.
  • Natural disasters.
  • Airplane crashes.
• Inadvertently:
  • As collateral victims of terrorism; e.g., Oklahoma City, Madrid.
• Indirectly:
  • Posttraumatic stress or PTSD and other psychological effects.
  • Through media; e.g., Oklahoma City, WTC.
• Intentionally Targeted:
  • As victims of terrorist attacks; e.g., Ma'lot, Beslan.

Slide 4

Medical Care for Children

A photo shows officers inspecting the exterior of a school. The caption is Beslan, 2004.

Slide 5

Staff and Medical Equipment of Children's Field Hospital

• Doctors and nurses: 20.
• Technical staff: 16.
• Specialists of Russian Center for Disaster Medicine and staff of Airmobile Hospital of Emergencies Ministry.

Slide 6

How Can Parents and Professionals Speak to Children About Terrorism and the Potential for Major Disasters?

• Be available.
• Give age-appropriate messages.
• Encourage questions.
• Seek professional assistance when stress symptoms increase.

Slide 7

Caring for Children: Observations from Hurricane Katrina

Photos show primarily African-American hurricane survivors seeking or awaiting resources.

Current as of August 2006

Internet Citation:

Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the Needs of Children. Text version of a slide presentation at a Web conference. August 2006. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/ulp/btpediatric/redlenertxt.htm

Return to Web Conference
State & Local Policymakers
AHRQ Home Page