Below is a release on a policy statement appearing in the October issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For Release: October 6, 2008, 12:01 am (ET)

A new AAP policy statement outlines specific recommendations for pediatricians, community clinicians, school physicians, and all levels of government in the planning, communication and implementation of individual school disaster plans. Approximately 55 million children are enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade at 17,000 public and 29,000 private schools in the U.S. With children spending a large part of their time at school, a well thought out and executed disaster plan, designed for the unique school culture with input from the community, is critical to ensuring the health and safety of students. “Disaster Planning for Schools” recommends that schools have the resources and expertise to develop and implement clear disaster guidelines. The policy statement recommends a four-stage crisis planning process that includes local and school physicians. The report also recommends that the needs of children of all ages be integrated into all local, state and federal disaster plans, and that these plans should recognize that children are likely to be at school when a disaster occurs. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: A related AAP policy statement, “Medical Emergencies Occurring at School,” provides specific guidelines for schools in preparing for and responding to a student medical emergency, and outlines the role of primary care clinicians and school physicians in assisting and supporting such efforts.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.