Pediatric Disaster Medicine

Pediatric patients represent a substantial proportion of disaster victims. Children are more vulnerable than adults and necessitate special care requirements when critically ill or injured, as well as posing unique mental health challenges. The PedsDM-SIG’s mission is to introduce this new initiative on the global stage and to foster collaboration among researchers and practitioners with an interest in the mitigation, preparedness, and response steps required to be proactive in the global approach to the response and resilience of Pediatric Disaster Medicine and to disseminate advances in pediatric disaster care.

Watch the Recent PedsDM-SIG Presentations and Discussions!

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Webinar Date: 28 May 2024

Child Life Disaster Relief: Bringing Child Life Expertise to Children Affected By Disaster

Child life specialists are trained professionals who understand the developmental needs of children, how trauma may affect them, and are skilled in providing therapeutic interventions to help mitigate trauma. Child Life Specialists are employed by most US children’s hospitals to support the psychosocial needs of children undergoing surgery, new diagnoses, and medical treatments, as well as for end-of-life care. This same expertise has transferred well to supporting children and families after a disaster.

This presentation by Toni Millar provides an overview of the Child Life profession, how the non-profit Child Life Disaster Relief (CLDR) deploys Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) volunteers to post-disaster sites, an overview of how CLDR/CCLS help children, the effects of trauma on children, and basic, practical tips for the audience on how to connect, communicate, and support children after disasters.

Pediatric Disaster Medicine SIG Leadership

Ashley Kane, MD, MSCR

Co-Chair

Disaster Medicine Faculty, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Hospitalist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Boston Children's Hospital

Instructor, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Ashley E. D. Kane is a board-certified pediatrician and internist and holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Research. She practices as a Hospitalist with Boston Children’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. During the COVID pandemic she served on the Hospitalist COVID Task Force for BIDMC. She is currently a Disaster Medicine Fellow in the Harvard University / Beth Israel Deaconess Disaster Medicine Fellowship and the co-founder of the Pediatric Special Interest Group for the fellowship along with Dr. Lea Sarna-Cahan.