Pediatricians Support Children’s Health Long After Disaster Strikes

When disaster strikes, children face an immediate threat. They’re more prone to dehydration, heat stroke, and hypothermia. Pollution, dust, and smoke are harder on growing lungs. Smaller bodies need special medical supplies.
But the upheaval continues well beyond the actual event. It can take years to rebuild homes, schools, and medical facilities. That’s where pediatricians—and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Disaster Recovery Fund—step in, helping children maintain a foundation for health even in times of crisis.

Recovery Continues in Maui

It’s been three years since wildfires devastated the island of Maui. While the news cycle has moved on, recovery efforts persist. Through support from the AAP Disaster Recovery Fund, children, families, and pediatricians whose lives were upended by the fires are still receiving critical resources.

Pediatrics is, in many ways, a preventive profession that lays the groundwork for a lifetime of good health. The Maui wildfires destroyed clinics, blocked roads, and displaced thousands of families. This destruction made it nearly impossible for many to get fundamental counseling on basic health topics like fevers, water safety, and insect bites (crucial in the tropics).

Filling Information Gaps for Families

Dr. Irene Papaconstadopoulos, a pediatrician and medical director at CH.A.M.PS Pediatrics on Maui, received a Disaster Recovery Grant from the AAP to create a series of 26 online videos to help fill that gap.

The short, parent-friendly clips cover essential topics in child safety, well-being, and health. While they don’t replace personalized guidance from a doctor, they provide families with reliable information when traditional care is more difficult to access.

Notably, the most popular video explains how to talk to children about natural disasters.

Reaching Thousands of Families

More than 50,000 families have watched the videos across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and the website of the AAP Hawaii Chapter. Those families now have tools to develop an asthma action plan, prevent RSV, support mental health, and make informed decisions about their children’s health and safety.

The project is one example of how pediatricians continue to support children and families long after a disaster leaves the headlines, helping ensure that children have the guidance and care they need, no matter what challenges lie ahead.