Because of unique vulnerabilities of children, their special
needs should be addressed in hospital disaster planning to
ensure that health care providers and health care facilities are
prepared to meet the needs of this vulnerable population.
Created by experts at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles as a
deliverable for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Healthcare Facilities Emergency Care Partnership Program Grant,
the Information included in this document is based on learnings
from the 2009 H1N1 Influenza outbreak that began in early 2009.
The information is intended to provide supplementary
recommendations for pediatric pandemic influenza planning and can
be used as an addendum to a larger pandemic planning document.
Children have important physical, physiologic, developmental, and
mental differences from adults that can and must be anticipated
in the disaster planning process. Plans must ensure that health
care facilities and medical providers are prepared to meet the
medical needs of children of all ages and developmental stages.
To support the reunification of unaccompanied minors and
separated or missing children with their parents or legal
guardians in the aftermath of a disaster, the attached document
entitled “Post Disaster Reunification of Children: A Nationwide
Approach” was developed.
