The disaster routine
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
Young kids like what’s familiar. Disasters are anything but. So, to help kids cope with disaster, experts recommend parents try to build in what’s familiar. At HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, psychologist Dan Dodgen says some of that job is fairly easy. A child’s disaster getaway kit should include things the child would ordinarily have, including some favorite toys:
“All of the things that you know help your child get through every regular day are the things you want to make sure are part of your plan for helping them get through an emergency.”
As the child grows, you’d need to update the kit with the child’s current favorites, of course. And Dodgen also advises updating vaccinations and keeping a vaccination record in the kit.
Learn more at ready.gov.
HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.