Disaster Preparedness: Meeting the Needs of the Pediatric Population

Purpose of Review: The purpose of this review is to determine how to make the most efficient use of pediatric care resources during a disaster in the hope of minimizing the potential impact of a disaster on the pediatric population. Recent Findings: Children are known to be especially vulnerable to a disaster because of physiologic, psychologic, and developmental differences from adults. This is further complicated by the fact that most planners do not account for these differences when managing an event. Summary: Disaster response involves coordinating resources on many levels, from what is available to care for children in the home, the help a local hospital can provide, and the organization of assets across the community. The best way to respond to a disaster is to prepare before it happens, and pediatric providers have the ability to assist in the planning and response at each of these levels.