H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Information for Parents and Caregivers

Information for Families
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a variety of resources for families on disaster preparedness and other health and safety topics.

Children Have Unique Needs
More than one-quarter of the US population are children younger than 18 years of age. As a parent or family member, you are in a wonderful position to advocate for the children in your care during and after a disaster. The AAP has created a document titled "The Youngest Victim: Disaster Preparedness to Meet Children's Needs" that you can share with others to help you learn why children are at increased risk or are more vulnerable in a disaster so that you can work with others in your community to ensure children's needs are addressed in all disaster preparedness plans.

What Parents Can Do

	Review and share basic information on disasters.
	Become aware of disasters that might happen in your community or state. Visit the FEMA Web site for more information.
	Contact your state or county health department for more information.
	Create a personal and/or family disaster plan. (See Resources section below for more information.)
	Work with your child's pediatrician and others who help to coordinate his or her care to develop a written medical plan, an emergency plan, and a working (action) care plan. This is especially important for children with special health care needs. See medical care plans/assessment forms and the Comprehensive Care Plan Packet.
	Review Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness. This is the Federal Emergency Management Agency's most comprehensive source on individual, family, and community preparedness.
	See “Emergency Preparedness and You”, a Web page by the American Red Cross and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that offers information, resources, and steps to help individuals be prepared.
	Work with your child's caregiver or child care program. (See “Preparing for Disaster: The Parent View” for more information.)
	Help your child's school develop a disaster preparedness plan. (View examples of disaster preparedness plans.)
	Talk to your child and family, friends, and neighbors about preparing for emergency situations. See Let's Get Ready! Planning Together for Emergencies, a new multimedia kit for parents and caregivers.
	Collaborate with your child's physician and other medical home partners to develop comprehensive care plans that are useful for children with special health care needs (ie, the Medical Information Plan, Emergency Plan, and Working (Action) Care Plan).

Resources
From the American Academy of Pediatrics:

	Caring for Your Family – A 2-page handout that includes a general overview of how families can prepare for disasters; included in the Family Readiness Kit.
	4 Steps to Prepare Your Family for Disasters – A 2-page “family readiness” resource that describes what parents can do to be prepared for a disaster. Includes a checklist of items that families should keep on hand.
	Family Readiness Kit – A comprehensive disaster preparedness resource for families.
	Getting Children Ready for the Worst – An article from the AAP magazine Healthy Children, Back to School Issue.
	Infant Nutrition During a Disaster: Breastfeeding and Other Options A 2-page fact sheet with basic information, actions steps, and an algorithm to guide decision making and support families with infants during a disaster. (AAP)
	Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools: A Quick Reference Guide – The second revision of an AAP manual that provides information, charts, and fact sheets to encourage common understanding among families, child care programs, and health professionals on preventing and managing infectious diseases in group child care settings. This updated version includes new and expanded sections on outbreaks, epidemics, and other infectious disease emergencies.
	Pediatric First Aid for Caregivers and Teachers – A great resource to have on hand!
	When Your Child Needs Emergency Medical Services – A 2-page "family readiness" resource for parents that describes what an emergency is and what to do in the event of an emergency. Includes a place to keep important emergency phone numbers.

From Other Organizations:

	After a Disaster…Information for Parents and Families – Various resources for families on mental health and traumatic events; how they can help their children to cope after a disaster.
	After the Injury: Helping Parents Help Their Kids Recover The Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia created this Web site for parents, so they could help their kids recover from an injury by understanding their child's reactions and learning what they can do to help him or her respond in a healthy way.
	Emergency Planning Tips If You're Pregnant and Have Young Children
	Federal Emergency Management Agency – FEMA resources for parents and teachers.
	Is Child Care Ready? Disaster Preparedness Information for Parents– The National Association for Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), through “Parent Central”, its electronic newsletter for parents, provides 10 questions that parents can ask their child care providers.
	What Parents Can Do? Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters