Did you know the nursing diagnosis "Risk for injury" addresses environmental disasters? Maternal-child nurses can intervene to reduce this risk with a familiar approach: anticipatory guidance. This issue of MCN is a great resource for preparing families, and I'd like to add some valuable online resources for parents and children. Begin at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov) (2007) and click on "Emergency Preparedness and Response" and "Emergency Preparedness and You." This Web site has plenty of information on how to prepare and respond to many public health emergencies, including not only the more familiar emergencies, such as fire, hurricane, and winter storm, but also terrorism, bioterrorism, and radiation. I will focus on what nurses can use to help families prepare an emergency kit, make a family disaster plan, learn how to shelter in a disaster, and maintain a healthy state of mind during the stress of a disaster.
Preparing an Emergency Kit
An emergency kit is essential for families in order to provide water, food, and other necessary supplies for a family to survive at least 3 days, but preferably 2 weeks. An active adult needs at least 2 quarts of water each day, but a child or pregnant woman needs 3 to 4 quarts each day. Dehydration is a significant risk!! Although food (not water) generally can be rationed to one meal per day, food should not be rationed with children and pregnant women. Great checklists of supplies and guidelines on shelf life are given on the CDC Web site and on the accompanying link to a food and water guide by the American Red Cross (2004). Consider specifically what families with infants and young children need: favorite nonperishable foods, nonperishable foods appropriate for infants and toddlers, utensils for children to eat with, diapers and hygiene items for diaper changes, hand sanitizers for children who put their hands in their mouths, and a few toys to entertain children. Breastfeeding mothers should include premade infant formula, just in case they are unable to nurse their baby. Suggestions are given for involving children in preparing and periodically checking the emergency kit.
The CDC Web site has plenty of information on how to prepare and respond to many public health emergencies, including not only the more familiar emergencies, such as fire, hurricane, and winter storm, but also terrorism, bioterrorism, and radiation.
The Disaster Plan
The family can prepare together by creating and practicing a disaster plan. Is the emergency kit near the door? Where will family members go if they can't return home? Family members should identify an out-of-state friend to be the "family contact" whom all members can call to tell where they are or participate in one of the online emergency registrations described on these Web sites. Children should know the safe spots for each type of disaster; older children can be taught to use a fire extinguisher or turn off the water, gas, or electricity.
In some situations, family members may need to take immediate shelter, so parents may want to identify where children would shelter if at school or where the family would shelter if out in a vehicle or in the community. Families can use an online map to find information about disaster risks and resources in their communities (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2007). Finally, the CDC Web site offers ways to reduce distress in children during a disaster, such as modeling calmness, sharing facts and plans with children, assuring children that they will not be left alone, and limiting children's exposure to repeated media coverage of the disaster. These sites are a wealth of information on preparedness!! Take advantage of them in preparing families-your own and others'-for the risk of disasters.
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