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Emergency Pediatric Care or How to Help Children in a Crisis

Children require special emergency pediatric care, as they are more vulnerable to the effects of a disaster. Any parent, family member, or guardian, wants to make sure that their loved ones are safe. Planning for a disaster can be a bit overwhelming. However, you must be prepared for any emergency. Depending on the area where you live, you might be at risk for forest fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and severe weather. Let’s talk about why the little ones need more care and how you can help them during a crisis.

three children lying on the floor

Why Are Children More Vulnerable?

Children are very different from adults because:

  • They are more prone to injuries and diseases.
  • Kids breathe in more air than adults do.
  • They have thinner, more delicate skin.
  • Children have fewer fluids in their bodies, thus fluid loss can have a larger effect on them.
  • They lose body heat faster.
  • Kids don’t fully understand the concept of safety.
  • They depend on adults.
  • Children may not know how to explain what hurts.
  • Kids do not fully understand the situation they are in.

It only takes three seconds for an earthquake to crush a home and the family inside it.

In just five hours, a flood can as much as drown a whole town. As a result, thousands of kids can be left vulnerable to deadly diseases such as malaria or cholera.

Seven days is all it takes for the lives of children to be threatened. Many countries run out of food and water and the outcome of such as disaster is malnutrition and salvation.

baby boy crying needing emergency pediatric care

Are You and Your Family at Risk?

The Alert Systems Group’s disaster risk map provides us with information about the possible risks you may be facing depending on where you live. Natural disasters can affect anyone. The same goes for man-made ones. Different types of emergencies require different skills and different knowledge on how to handle them.

How to Prepare for Emergencies

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Family Readiness Kit can help you be prepared for almost every natural disaster. It was developed by specialists after discussing with thousands of families. The feedback they received helped make a set of unique, vital materials. The kit can be used at home by any member of the family.

It is important for adults to be prepared to meet the emotional needs of their children. Kids often say that their parents avoid discussing disaster. However, talking about these natural events may make the young ones feel safer.

Although it may be difficult to start preparing for an emergency, once you dive into the process, it becomes a lot easier. All family members can come together to make a disaster plan. Even the child’s doctor can help. Consequently, during your next visit to the doctor’s office, ask them how should you prepare for an emergency.

How to Communicate with Your Children

  • Tell them about the disasters that could happen in the area where you live. Teach them what are the different warning signs (fire alarm, tornado siren, and more).
  • Show them where the list of contact is. It’s important they know where to find the doctor’s or the pharmacy’s phone numbers.
  • Teach them what 911 is and how to dial the number.
  • Consider using the Child ID Card. Place a copy in their backpack.
  • Arrange a meeting place in case you ever become separated from the rest of the family.
  • Install the Red Cross Emergency App. If your kid is old enough for a phone, download the app to their smartphone. It will alert them of any watch or warning.
  • Show children where the smoke alarms are.
  • Teach the young ones how to use the fire extinguisher.parents talking with kids

Who Provides Emergency Pediatric Care?

Children requiring emergency pediatric care have unique needs, especially when their lives are threatened. The majority of kids, either ill or injured, are brought to community hospital emergency departments. Furthermore, emergency medical services agencies can provide out-of-hospital care.

To meet the requirements of pediatric care, the Emergency Nurses Association developed the ENPC certification course. The Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course is intended to improve the care of the children by increasing the level of knowledge, the skills, and the confidence among the nursing staff.

Your neighbors may become lifesavers as well. Learn who has special qualifications such as doctors, nurses, or other emergency care practitioners.

Post-Disaster Psychological Needs

Emergency pediatric care does not end with the process of preparing for a disaster or the medical care given to treat injuries or illnesses. Parents must be aware that the psychological effects do not just disappear. Once the event has passed, you must take care of your child’s needs for a long period of time. Experts say that children can show signs of trauma for up to two years. These signs are often in the form of nightmares, but there may be other problems as well.

Children need support regardless of the fact that they may seem fine. Sometimes, kids do no exhibit signs of trauma for months after the event. Furthermore, some children may never show signs of distress, but there will be long-lasting psychological effects nonetheless. Therefore, observe your child’s behavioral changes carefully. After a trauma, children need extra counseling and attention.

Parents must seek professional help, but they must also help their children cope with what has happened. Talk to them about their fears. Ask them what they are concerned about. Listen to their feelings without judging. Try to understand their fears regardless of the fact that they may seem irrational.

Offer them reassurance that they will always be taken care of. It is also important they know they know that their family will stick together. Let them cry if they need to, and remind them that it is ok to be afraid from time to time. They do not always have to be brave. They may feel that everything is out of their control. Therefore, show them that there are many things that they are still in control of.

It’s important you remember that a disaster can occur at any given time. Luckily, there are ways to keep your children safe. The key thing to do is be prepared and teach your children everything you know. Have them learn early on about the possible danger in your area, how to avoid it, and where to find emergency pediatric care.

IMAGE SOURCE: 1, 2, 3

National Flood Insurance Program – How to Be Eligible

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established in 1968 to enable property owners to purchase flood insurances as protection against losses due to floods. Sadly, floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. It is also the costlier. Fortunately, certain communities are eligible for participating in the NFIP. We will discuss the requirements for joining the program to find out if you are eligible for it.

National Flood Insurance Program - How to Be Eligible

Eligibility for the National Flood Insurance Program

To participate in this program, a community must adopt and enforce the regulations that meet the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. The requirements are intended to reduce the members of the community’s costs for flood relief and to prevent any loss of life or property. Nationwide, over 20,000 communities have joined the National Flood Insurance Program.

The flood hazard map provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must be studied carefully by the community. It has to determine whether the insurance and the floodplain management are beneficial to the citizens of the community.

An important matter that some property owners may not be aware of is the fact that homeowners insurance policies do not usually cover flood losses. Furthermore, many property owners are not aware that their residing area is flood-prone. Any community can join the National Flood Insurance Program, regardless of the fact that it may not be flood-prone. Citizens participating in this program will then be able to purchase the flood insurance.

What Are the Requirements for Joining NFIP?

Citizens living in high-risk areas that have a mortgage from a federally regulated lender are obliged to purchase a flood insurance. Furthermore, they must carry it for the life of the mortgage. Other citizens with a mortgage but living in outside a high-risk area, can also purchase the flood insurance. They may also qualify for Preferred Risk Policies.

The minimum management requirements that communities must adopt in order to join the National Flood Insurance Program are located in the Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 60.3. Each of the requirements depends on the type of hazard data that FEMA provides the community with.

However, meeting the requirements is not enough. The floodplain management regulations of a community must also be legally enforceable. State authority for floodplain management differs from State to State. It is quite possible for your State to require superior regulations than the minimum requirements of the NFIP.

Certain States require that the communities who wish to join NFIP must submit the floodplain management regulations for approval to the State. The State NFIP Coordinating Agency can offer assistance to any community who wishes to find out the State’s requirements.

Contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency Regional Office or the National Flood Insurance Program State Coordinating Agency for more information. They can provide you with the model floodplain management ordinance and all the guidance needed to meet the required conditions.

flood damage in new york

What Types of Regulations Are There?

The floodplain management regulations for communities are generally zoning ordinances, subdivision ordinance, building codes, sanitary regulations, and “stand alone” ordinances.

The approach of each community depends on the State laws and how they choose to manage their flood hazards.

What Is the Waiting Period?

Generally speaking, a policy will only take effect after 30 days from the purchasing of the flood insurance. However, if a citizen purchases the policy in connection with a mortgage, the waiting period does not apply.

 Do I Need the Flood Insurance?

Yes. Even if you live in a low-to-moderate flood risk area, it is advisable you purchase the flood insurance. All areas are susceptible to some degree of flooding. As a matter of fact, communities living outside the high-risk areas make for approximately 25 percent of the NFIP’s claims.

Property owners should ask their agents if they qualify for the Preferred Risk Policy. This provides low-priced flood insurance protection. It can even go as low as $112 a year.

louisiana flood

How Do I File a Claim?

Filing a claim is a three-step process:

  1. Notify the insurer. Contact your agent or the insurance company to start filing the claim. An adjuster should usually contact you after a couple of days since filing your claim. If this does not happen, then contact your insurer again.
  2. Document the damage. You will need evidence of the damage (both to your home and possessions) to prepare the repair estimate. Consequently, you must take photos of any damage. This includes anything from discarded objects to structural damage. You should also make a list of both lost and damaged objects. Include their value, date of purchase, and receipts.
  3. Complete the Proof of Loss. The Proof of Loss is a sworn statement made by the insured regarding the amount that they claim. Your adjuster will help you prepare this statement. You must file the Proof of Loss with your insurer within 60 days from the disaster.

What Happens If I Do Not Join NFIP?

Non-participating communities that are not flood-prone are not a subject to any sanction. However, if a community that has been identified as flood-prone does not qualify for the NFIP within a year, the following sanctions apply:

  • Property owners will no longer be eligible to purchase the NFIP flood insurance policy.
  • Federal grants or loans for development will no longer be available in identified flood hazard areas.
  • Federal disaster assistance will not be provided.
  • Federally insured and regulated lending institutions will not be allowed to make loans for insurable buildings.
  • Federal mortgage insurance and loan guarantees will not be provided.

While the participation in this program is voluntary, it is important you join NFIP. An important benefit of participation is that you and other members of the community are provided with the opportunity protect yourselves from flood losses. Another important aspect is the fact that certain communities may be sanctioned if they do not qualify for the program. Which is highly detrimental considering that Federal agencies will no longer provide financial assistance for citizens in specific flood hazard areas. Now that you know the benefits and the consequences of not joining NFIP, make the right decision for your wellbeing.

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