Emergency Preparedness & Children: Protecting Our Future

Children are one of our most vulnerable populations. They have unique needs that are often overlooked during emergencies.

Why It Matters

One in four people in the United States is a child between the ages of 0-18 years. One in five children has a special healthcare need. As the largest vulnerable population in the country, children are affected by all emergencies and their unique needs need to be taken into account.

Effective emergency response and recovery systems must be prepared, practiced, and ready to support the needs of all children, including those with special healthcare needs. Emergency planning at the local, state, and federal levels must consider issues related to children, including safe sheltering, mental health services, and access to healthcare providers, medications, and medical devices.

Children are at a higher risk than other groups during and after emergencies because:

The vaccines, medicines, and equipment that are specially designed for children in emergency situations often have limited or no availability.
They may not be able to communicate their symptoms or feelings.
They breathe in more air relative to their size than adults, which means they absorb harmful materials in the air faster.
They spend more time on the ground and put their hands in their mouths more often than adults, which exposes them to greater amounts.