Twenty tornadoes are now confirmed to have touched down in Ohio on the evening and overnight hours of May 27 and 28, 2019. Natural disasters, such as this outbreak, and other crises, like violence in their community, can leave children with questions or fears. According to the CDC, mental stress from a disaster can be harder on children because they understand less about the situation, feel less able to control events, and have less experience coping with difficult situations.
Parents may also experience stress as they are unsure how best to address a child’s concerns. As a trusted resource for your patients and community, you can play a role in spreading awareness on how to discuss disasters with children and prepare for possible future emergencies. Some best practices you may recommend to caregivers include:
The Ohio AAP has compiled resources from sources like the National AAP, CDC, and for members to assist in preparing for these conversations. Visit http://ohioaap.org/disaster/ to view resources and learn more.