Tia Dickson, RN, BSN

Primary Children's Hospital

You respond to a motor vehicle crash, multiple cars, multiple victims. Several crews are working the scene. A 6 year-old is handed off to you. The report, including "One dead, mom is critical," is overheard by the child. What do you think that child is thinking?

"Is my dad dead?"

"What does critical mean?"

"That was a lot blood."

"Was that crash my fault?"

"Where's mom and dad?"

One in four children experience a traumatic event by the time they are 18 years old. EMS is often on the scene after these events occur. While ABCs are your priority, your words will impact the child's experience in the moment and what they go through could impact their lives long term. Do you know what to say and do to ease their experience?

Children will process traumatic experiences in many ways and it will be influenced by their age. Understanding child development will guide the ways you can help.

Know the Signs of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

One half of the children who survive traumatic events will show signs of PTSD. Every child's symptoms are different. In general, your child may have:

• Intense fear
• Feelings of helplessness
• Feelings of being agitated and disorganized
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble focusing
• Loss of appetite
• Changes in their interactions with others, including more aggressive or more withdrawn

Your child may also go back to behaviors they had outgrown:

• Bedwetting
• Clinging
• Sucking their thumb
• Emotionally-numb, anxious, or depressed
• Separation anxiety

Your Child Needs Your Support

Let your child know they are safe and you are in control.

• Recognize your child is taking cues from you on how to react to the traumatic event. It is OK for you to be sad or hurt.
• Your child needs to know that you are in control and are protecting them.

Let your child know you are there for them.

• Return to a daily routine as soon as you can. Create a schedule for when to eat, sleep, school, and play. Daily routines help kids know what to expect and make them feel safe.
• Talk to your child. Let them know what you are doing to keep them safe. Answer their questions in a way they can understand.
• Stay close to your child. Let them sit near you or hold your hand.
• Accept and work with your child on regressed behavior.

Monitor information your child is getting about an event. Turn off the TV news and limit your conversations about events in front of young children.

Let teachers know about traumatic events in your child's life. Keep open communication about changes in your child's behavior.

Get Your Child Help

Expect your child will return to their normal routine over time. If your child still has trouble recovering after one month, get professional help. Your child will learn how to:

• Talk about what happened. They will tell their stories with words, pictures, or play. This helps them see the reaction to the trauma is normal.
• Develop coping strategies to help with fear and anxiety.

The answer is YES!

Pediatric Education for the Prehospital Provider

Register online at www.peppsite.com. Look up classes in Utah and find the one that works for you. Once you find the class, go to jblearning.com, and look up pepp als in the search tool. Purchase the number ($18.95). Return to peppsite.org to register for the class and follow the prompts.

If you have any questions, please email Erik Andersen at erikandersen@utah.gov or text/call 435-597-7098. Continue to watch the website for additional classes.