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Needs of Our Children: Pediatric Care Before, During and After Disasters
Broadcast Date: May 16, 2006
(1 hour, 30 minutes)
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Program Overview
The expectation during emergencies is that the care provided for adults is also appropriate for children. However, children have unique healthcare needs. In 2004, more than 25 percent (approximately 73 million) of the total U.S. population was under age 18. Of those 73 million, 20 million were under the age of 5. Although a significant proportion of children under age 18 may have a physiologic composition similar to that of adults, younger children have special requirements related to physical needs. Moreover, all children have unique mental health and psychosocial needs that should be considered during an emergency response effort. Given the large proportion of our population that requires pediatric-specific care, it is imperative that preparedness planning and disaster response specifically consider the special needs of children and the capacity needed to serve them.
The purpose of this presentation is to provide relevant information related to children's needs during emergency or disaster events from both a clinical care and a public health planning perspective. The speakers will provide a brief overview of the needs of the pediatric population and the delivery system that specifically serves children; discuss experiences from recent disasters where resources for children were limited; and discuss efforts and potential solutions on the state, regional, and national levels.
Faculty
Crayton Fargason, MD, MM, FAACP
Medical Director and Vice President of Clinical Affairs
Children's Health System
Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics
UAB School of Medicine
Birmingham, Alabama
Carden Johnston, MD, FAACP
Chair, Disaster Preparedness Team
American Academy of Pediatrics
Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics
UAB School of Medicine
Emergency Medicine Pediatrician
Children's Hospital of Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Martha Wingate, DrPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Health Care Organization and Policy
UAB School of Public Health
Birmingham, Alabama
Target Audience
Public health professionals, healthcare providers, first responders, community planners, leaders of volunteer and faith-based organizations that assist affected communities.
Contact Hours
None for this program.
Contact for Technical Assistance
(334) 206-5618 or email ALPHTN
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