The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of more than 60,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. For more information, see the AAP Fact Sheet.
The AAP has been involved in disaster preparedness efforts for many years. In 2001, the AAP established a Task Force on Bioterrorism to manage follow-up efforts regarding the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and issues related to anthrax. Then, the AAP established a Disaster Preparedness Team that focused on Katrina follow-up and clarified the AAP role in reunification, rescue, and recovery.
In 2006, the AAP Board of Directors identified disaster preparedness as 1 of 7 priority issues requiring special attention and resources. The AAP appointed the Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council in May 2007 to establish a focused effort within the Academy structure to 1) Develop and implement a 3-5 year Strategic Action Plan for AAP disaster preparedness initiatives; 2) Oversee/support AAP disaster preparedness initiatives while working collaboratively with AAP committees, sections, and councils and key partner organizations; and 3) Strengthen AAP advocacy efforts, which include responding to inquiries as appropriate, identifying opportunities for advocacy such as providing Congressional testimony and offering comments on federal regulations, and mobilizing an AAP Contact Network.
Key issues that the AAP is addressing include:
Ensuring that children's issues are addressed as early as possible in the development of disaster preparedness programs, materials, and activities.
Involving pediatric experts in all levels of disaster planning and response (medical home to national levels).
Supporting AAP Chapters and members to integrate pediatric issues into state plans.
The DPAC members recognize that “disaster medicine” is a topic that crosses many other AAP groups (at last count, there were more then 20 AAP committees, sections, and councils with relevant policies or projects). Currently, more than 400 AAP members with an interest, involvement, and/or expertise in disaster preparedness have been identified.
This Web site represents one step to ensure that all pediatricians and other health professionals, parents, caregivers and teachers, policymakers, and communities have the information they need when they need it. For your information, the AAP Tomorrow's Children Endowment Fund is supporting the redesign of this Web site and other disaster preparedness initiatives. We hope that you find it to be a valuable resource!
The AAP Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council Members:
Gary Q. Peck, MD, FAAP, Chairperson
Steven E. Krug, MD, FAAP
Scott Needle, MD, FAAP
Michael Shannon, MD, MPH, FAAP
David J. Schonfeld, MD, FAAP
Liaison Members:
Terry Adirim, MD, MPH, FAAP
US Department of Homeland Security
Office of Health Affairs
Richard E. Besser, MD, FAAP
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response
David Marcozzi, MD, FACEP
US Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
See Photo Credits for information on the pictures on the AAP Children and Disasters Web site.
