Summary: Children are the most affected population by natural and man-made disasters because of their physical and psychosocial vulnerability, high dependency on parents and other caregivers, and limited voice and representation. Pediatric needs should be considered in all disaster plans and response efforts. The far-reaching impact of a major disaster encompasses inadequate search and rescue efforts, transportation issues, insufficient medical personnel, and limited bed capacity. Reaching victims within the first hours may be challenging due to various factors, including health workers themselves being earthquake victims, extensive damage to access roads, and the destruction or damage to hospitals. The increasing need for healthcare professionals could give rise to a need for field hospitals and volunteer health workers. A team of pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, and experienced team leaders is crucial for the medical and surgical management of pediatric mass-casualty events. Medical treatment and hospitalization can vary depending on the time elapsed since the event, the distance to field hospitals or hospitals located in remote, unaffected regions, the average age of the affected population, and the type of disaster. This presentation addresses the challenge of caring for children and the critical factors to be considered in disaster management for earthquakes, based on experiences gained from the 2023 Türkiye earthquake.
Özlem Tekşam (Sun,) studied this question.