Care for children with special health care needs in disasters

Abstract

There are approximately 80 million children in the United States of America. 12 million are children with special special health care needs(CSHCN) [14]. Problems caused by a disaster, including access to shelter, food, water, and supervision, are only the beginning. These children are also dependent on medications, specialized equipment (which frequently requires a source of electricity to operate), and the knowledge and skill of their family and/or health professional caregivers to keep them alive and healthy. CSHCN have an amplified vulnerability due to the identified problems in organizing and providing care for these populations in recent disasters (e.g. hurricane Katrina) [4]. Therefore, only preparation at all levels of health care and government will mitigate the risk of (or even prevent) instability and mortality in CSHCN as a result of a disaster situation. The pediatric rehabilitation team can have an important role to play by providing guidance and education to families of children with CSHCN on appropriate and meaningful preparedness, participating in community and health care planning, performing primary care, and providing expertise to other care providers during an event. All members of the team, including physical, occupational, and speech therapists, social workers, nursing, etc., should encourage parents of CSHCN to be aware of the issues regarding the care of their child in case of a disaster. 2. Overview of CSHCN and TAC (Technologically Assisted Children)