Pediatricians should follow evacuation orders from officials and encourage families to do the same. Evacuation – When a hurricane is pending, there may be a need to evacuate your home, hospital or office.Response activities take place during the hurricane and include actions to save lives and prevent future damage in an emergency situation. Pediatricians can speak with parents about strategies for coping and adjustment. When children are exposed to situations that are traumatic, they may have difficulty understanding or they may develop a range of stress-related symptoms. Talking to children before a disaster helps families to prepare for emergencies and everyday life.See the AAP Family Readiness Kit or the Hurricane Preparedness: Tips for Families web page. Pediatricians can start the conversation with families and advise them on which activities are of highest priority. The AAP recommends that families develop a written disaster plan and that parents discuss these plans with their children. Help all families, especially those with children and youth with special needs, to prepare for disasters.This includes having plans to notify parents if sheltering in place or emergency evacuation is required during school hours as well as planning for the reunification of children with families. These locations are required to develop preparedness plans to keep students safe in a disaster. Work with child care programs and schools to improve disaster planning.The AAP summarized the policies and processes of vaccine manufacturers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccines for Children Program related to vaccine loss due to a natural disaster in the US and Puerto Rico. Check if you have coverage for vaccines and spoilage, business interruption/income replacement and unique hazards like flooding. Locate and review your office insurance policies, paying particular attention to exclusions, limits and deductibles. Review the AAP Preparedness Checklist for Pediatric Practices or the Guidelines for Care of Children in the Emergency Department checklist for ideas on plan development in various practice settings. Create or update a written preparedness plan.The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers information on how to prepare for a hurricane and the US Food and Drug Administration provides information on health and safety during hurricanes. Educate yourself in advance of a hurricane or storm.Hurricane PreparednessĬlinicians can take steps now to prepare themselves and the families they serve: Clinicians can play a critical role in assisting children and their families to prepare for, respond to, and recover from hurricanes. During each hurricane season, the AAP works with AAP chapters, federal disaster response and recovery agencies, and non-governmental organizations to ensure that children's needs are addressed in a strategic manner during the response and recovery periods. Hurricanes can result in storm surge, heavy rainfall, flooding, high winds and tornadoes. With a recognized increase in the number and severity of natural and other types of disasters, pediatric health care providers can be a critical partner in coordinated response and recovery efforts. The information below outlines information on hurricane preparedness, response and recovery efforts. Each year, the hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.
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