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Emergency Preparedness

Guide Book

HELPING CHILDREN COPE WITH DISASTER

     Disasters may strike quickly and without warning.  These events can be frightening for adults, but they are traumatic for children if they don't know what to do.  

     During a disaster, your family may have to leave your home and daily routine.  Children may become anxious, confused or frightened.

     As an adult, you'll need to cope with the disaster in a way that will help children avoid developing a permanent sense of loss.  It is important to give children guidance that will help them reduce their fears.

     The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the American Red Cross have prepared this information to help you help your children cope.

     Ultimately, you should decide what's best for your children, but consider using these suggestions as guidelines.

Children and Their Response to Disaster

     Children depend on daily routines.  They wake up, eat breakfast, go to school, play with friends.  When emergencies or disasters interrupt this routine, children may become anxious.

     In a disaster, they'll look to you and other adults for help.  How you react to an emergency gives them clues on how to act.

     If you seem overcome with a sense of loss, a child may feel their losses more strongly.  

     Children's fears also may stem from their imagination, and you should take these feelings seriously.  A child who feels afraid is afraid.  Your words and actions can provide reassurance.  When talking with your child, be sure to present a realistic picture that is both honest and manageable.

     Feelings of fear are healthy and natural for adults and children.  But as an adult, you need to keep control of the situation.

     When you're sure that danger has passed, concentrate on your child's emotional needs by asking the child what's uppermost in their mind.

     Having children participate in the family's recovery activities will help them feel that their life will return to normal.  Your response during this time may have a lasting impact.

Be aware that after a disaster, children are most afraid that:

• The event will happen again

• Someone will be injured or killed

• They will be separated from their family

• They will be left alone

Advice to Parents:  Prepare For Disaster

     You can create a Family Disaster Plan by taking four simple steps.

     First, learn what hazards exist in your community and how to prepare for each.

     Then meet with your family to discuss what you would do, as a group, in each situation.

     Next, take steps to prepare your family for disaster such as; posting emergency phone numbers, selecting an out-of-area family contact, assembling disaster supplies kits for each member of your household and installing smoke detectors on each level of your home.

     Finally, practice your Family Disaster Plan so that everyone will remember what to do when a disaster does occur.

     Develop and practice a Family Disaster Plan.

     Contact your local emergency management office, or your local Red Cross chapter for materials that describe how your family can create a disaster plan.  Everyone in the household, including children, should play a part in the family's response and recovery efforts.  (See How to Develop a Home Escape Plan)

     Teach your child how to recognize danger signals.  Make sure your child knows what smoke detectors, fire alarms and local community warning systems (horns, sirens) sound like.

     Explain how to call for help.  Teach your child how and when to call for help.  Check the telephone directory for local emergency phone numbers and post these phone numbers by all telephones.

     If you live in a 9-1-1 service area, tell your child to call 9-1-1.

     Help your child memorize important family information.  Children should memorize their family name, address and phone numbers.

     They should also know where to meet in case of an emergency.

     Some children may not be old enough to memorize the information.  They could carry a small index card that lists emergency information to give to as adult or babysitter.

Teaching Your Children How To CALL For Help

     Teach your child how and when to call foe help.  They should call 9-1-1 if you live in a 9-1-1 service area.  If not, check the telephone directory for local emergency numbers

     Even very young children can be taught how and when to call for emergency assistance.  If your child can't read, the following chart has pictures that may help them identify the correct number to call in the event of an emergency.

     As you explain each picture, have your child color the symbol on the emergency phone number chart.  It may help your child remember who to call in an emergency.

After the Disaster:  Time For Recovery

     Immediately after the disaster, try to reduce your child's fear and anxiety.

     Keep the family together.  While you look for housing and assistance, you may want to leave your children with relatives or friends.  Instead, keep the family together as much as possible and make children a part of what you are doing to get the family back on its feet.  Children get anxious and they'll worry that their parents won't return.

     Calmly and firmly explain the situation.  As best as you can, tell children what you know about the disaster.  Explain what will happen next.  For example, say, "Tonight, we will all stay together in the shelter."

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

My Family Name:______________________________________

My Phone Number:_____________________________________

My Address:__________________________________________

My Town:____________________________________________

My County:___________________________________________

My Out-of-Area Contact:________________________________

     Get down to the child's eye level and talk to them.

     Encourage children to describe what they're feeling.  Listen to what they say.  If possible, include the entire family in the discussion.

     Include children in recovery activities.  Give children chores that are their responsibility.  This will help children feel they are part of the recovery.  Having a task will help them understand that everything will be all right.

     You can help children cope by understanding what causes their anxieties and fears.  Reassure them with firmness and love.

     Your children will realize that life will eventually return to normal.  If a child does not respond to the above suggestions, seek help from a mental health specialist or a member of the clergy.

Helping Children Cope With the Aftermath of a Disaster

     The following is a list of some of the normal responses many children have in the weeks and months following a natural disaster:

• Difficulty readjusting to normal routines

• Increased agitation and anxiety

• Increased apathy or lethargy

• Decreased interest in school or extra-curricular activities

• Difficulty with sleep - nightmares or insomnia

• Increased physical complaints - stomach or headaches

• Slightly more pronounced aggression or withdrawn behavior

• Poor concentration

• Fear of harm from future weather disasters

     In addition to the above, older children and teenagers may respond with:

• Greater emotional guardedness

• Increased rebelliousness

• Resentment of the extra chores and expectations related to recovery

• Anxiety about grown-up concerns such as family financial problems, parental stress and worry about future losses

• Increased recklessness and risk-taking behaviors

• Anxiety about losing their school year or opportunities for higher education

     It is important to remember that these are NORMAL reactions to an abnormal, unusually stressful event and that these responses will usually diminish as the months go by.

Family Coping Tips

     The following ideas may help reduce family stress during any disaster recovery period:

• Slow down.  It will take time to recover and rebuild.  Pace yourself and do not expect everything to go forward at normal speed.

• Take time for fun, friends and family activities.  Make time for fun and ensure the extra work doesn't isolate us from others.

• Listen without judging.  Encourage all family members to share their stories and feelings about the disaster and its aftermath.

• Be kind to your bodies.  Eat regularly and well, get enough sleep and exercise regularly.  Avoid excessive caffeine, sugar, fatty foods and alcohol.  It will give you better physical resources to cope.

• Minimize other major changes.  Try to reduce the number of other disruptive changes in your lives through the year to avoid cumulative stress.

• Be tolerant of others.  When you are tired or stressed it's easy to misinterpret the behavior or words of others.  Tempers may flare and nerves may fray.  Show each other a little more understanding, be quick to show you care and slow to take offense.  The recovery period can be used as an opportunity to strengthen family and neighborhood ties.

• Laugh.  Use humor to lighten the situation as much as you can.

• Give extra hugs.  You can take time to appreciate and praise each other in the midst of your extra work.

• Prepare for the possibility of future disasters.  You can involve children and other family members in making a plan to care for yourselves in case of another disaster.  For example, teach children to call posted emergency numbers that may be needed, carry out fire safety activities and stock up supplies before the snow storm season hits again.

     Some children are affected much more severely than others both during and after a disaster.

     Extra support may be needed to help children who are particularly vulnerable, including children who have experienced previous major losses or disruptions in their lives, children who have very large disaster related losses such as the death of a pet or damage to their home, and children who have experienced additional major losses or disasters since any previous disaster.

     If you have concerns about a child or youth who may be having difficulties related to his or her experience of a disaster, you can contact the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Health Action Line at 1-800-660-5853 for information and referrals of call the Child and Youth Wellness Centre.