title: Disaster preparedness for technology and electricity-dependent children and youth with special health care needs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) are complex and often dependent on electrical devices (technoelectric dependent) for life support/maintenance. Because they are reliant on electricity and electricity failure is common, the purpose of this study was to survey their preparedness for electricity failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents and caregivers of technoelectric CYSHCN were asked to complete a preparedness questionnaire. We collected a convenience sample of 50 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These 50 patients utilized a total of 166 electrical devices. A home ventilator, oxygen concentrator, and a feeding pump were identified as the most important device for the children in 35 of the 50 patients, yet only 19 of the 35 patients could confirm that this device had a battery backup. Also, 22 of the 50 patients had a prolonged power failure preparedness plan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Technoelectric-dependent CYSHCN are poorly prepared for electrical power failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and Kapiolani Medical Center For Women & Children, Honolulu, HI 96826, USA.
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakashita
authors.forename: Wallace J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Loren G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D004189:Disaster Planning; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: children; disaster preparedness; electricity; feeding pump; home oxygen; home ventilator; oxygen concentrator; special needs