recovery

Goals

Recovery may include some or all the following actions:

Addressing children’s emotional needs

After a serious emergency, children need to be assured they will be okay, and that adults will take care of them and keep them safe. Children may be afraid the emergency will occur again, they will be injured, or left alone. Children may even interpret disasters as punishment for real or imagined misdeeds. Explain that the emergency was a natural event.

Children will be less likely to experience prolonged fear or anxiety if they know what to expect after an emergency. Here are some suggestions for helping them deal with a traumatic situation:

Remember you may have also paid an emotional toll and may need help coping with anxiety and stress. Be aware of signs of post-traumatic stress and consider reaching out for help.