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Disaster Preparedness Among Families of Children With Special Health Care Needs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2013

Lisa R. Baker  and
Mark D. Baker
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Abstract

Families with children with special health care needs may present a challenge for disaster responders. This study examined the level of personal disaster preparedness among this at-risk population in relation to the general population, and explores whether special health care needs or perception of disaster risk affects preparedness levels. A convenience sample of 145 families presenting to an urban tertiary care children's hospital was surveyed using a previously validated instrument to gather information on levels of preparedness and factors influencing preparedness. In spite of significant special health care needs and concern about disasters, families remain unprepared for a disaster event. Health care and psychosocial support workers are in a unique position to increase preparedness levels in this at-risk population.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2010;4:240-245)

Keywords

preparednesspediatricsspecial health care needsat-risk populations
Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , October 2010 , pp. 240 - 245
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2010

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