Children have unique health, mental health, and treatment needs. When there is a disaster, children need to be cared for by a health professional who has been trained to respond quickly and appropriately. The American Academy of Pediatrics is actively involved in disaster preparedness at all levels.

The AAP offers pediatricians a variety of resources to:

Help Families plan their response to a disaster.

Participate in planning efforts and ensure that childrens' needs are identified/addressed in preparedness plans for emergencies and disasters.

Advocate for Children by reminding others that children have unique needs, and they are not "small adults" and are more vulnerable, especially after a disaster.