title: Planning for disasters involving children in Australia: A practical guide.
abstract: Children comprise 19% of the Australian population. Children are at risk of higher morbidity and mortality in disaster events than adults; however, there is a paucity of paediatric-specific disaster preparedness in Australia. Paediatric disaster plans should be developed, tested and renewed regularly. Plans need to address unaccompanied and unidentified children, medical and psychosocial needs and family reunification. Specific management is required for chemical, biological and radiological events.
authors.affiliation: Royal Children's Hospital.|Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne.|Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grindlay
authors.affiliation: Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Katina Mai
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Breeze
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D000070316:Pediatric Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards
keywords: disaster planning; disaster response; mass casualty event; paediatric; post-traumatic stress disorder; trauma