About Children in Disasters

Children are different

Children's bodies are different from adults' bodies

• They are more likely to get sick or severely injured.
  • They breathe in more air per pound of body weight than adults.
  • They have thinner skin, and more of it per pound of body weight (higher surface-to-mass ratio).
  • They have less fluid in their bodies, so fluid loss (e.g. dehydration, blood loss) can have a bigger effect on children.
• They are more likely to lose too much body heat.
• They spend more time outside and on the ground.
• They put their hands in their mouths more often than adults.

Children in an emergency

Children need help from adults in an emergency

• Children don't fully understand how to keep themselves safe.
• Older children and adolescents may take their cues from others.
• Young children may cry, scream, or become paralyzed with fear.
  
• They may not be able to explain what hurts or bothers them.
• They are more likely to get the care they need when they have parents or other caregivers around.
• Adults are required by law to make medical decisions for a child.
• Adults will sometimes have to make decisions with limited information on the ways some illnesses and medicines affect children.

Children's mental health

Mental stress from a disaster can be harder on children

• They feel less of a sense of control.
• They understand less about the situation.
• They have fewer experiences bouncing back from hard situations.

Resources

Disasters can strike without any warning. Family members may not all be in the same place.

It's important to make a plan so everyone will know what to do.

• Family Emergency Planning
• Disaster Master Games
• Build a Disaster Kit Game