Children may become anxious, confused, or frightened
in an emergency; they’ve lost the comfort of familiar
routines like school and play.
It’s important to help them reduce their fears.
Adults’ reaction to an emergency gives children
a model of how to act. If you are alarmed, a youngster
may become more scared. If you show confidence, that will
help him or her feel the same.
But remember that feelings of fear are natural and even
healthy in dire situations. After the danger has passed,
focus on your child’s emotional needs. Listen to
what she’s thinking and feeling.
Consider common fears of children after a disaster:
- That the event will happen again.
- Someone will be injured or killed.
- They will be separated from the family.
- They will be left alone.
Invite children to participate in the family recovery
activities so they feel that life is returning to normal.
Parents should consider having children with persistent
fears about disasters receive counseling from a licensed
mental health practitioner.
For parents:
Create and practice a family disaster plan so everyone
will remember what to do if an emergency ever occurs.
Teach your child how to recognize danger signals. Help
him or her know what smoke detectors, fire alarms and
local community warning systems sound like.
Explain how to call for help. Check the telephone directory
for local emergency phone numbers and post these phone
numbers by all telephones. You can even teach young children
how and when to call for emergency assistance.
Help your child memorize important family information
such as name, address and phone number. Younger children
could carry a small index card with emergency information
to give to an adult or babysitter.
Know some of the typical
signs to look for in kids following a disaster.
