October 12, 2005 -- Pediatricians Caution About Returning Children to Flood Areas

Children are especially vulnerable to environmental hazards, and that means care should be taken in returning them to areas that have been flooded by the recent hurricanes, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said in a statement released today. Children and teens should not be involved in clean-up activities and should be the last group to return, the statement cautioned. In a long list of the conditions that must exist before a flooded area is safe for children, the AAP included that basic utilities, including water, must be reestablished; there must be a reliable food supply and food storage facilities; a communication system including 911 access must be restored; healthcare services, including mental health care, must be available; and schools and homes must be free of environmental hazards. The statement notes that detailed information about the return of children to flood-damaged areas is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov and from the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.aap.org.