Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs in Emergencies

All children have unique needs in emergencies, but care for children with special healthcare needs is often more complex because of their various health conditions and extra care requirements. They may have a hard time moving from one place to another, urgent or constant medical needs, difficulty communicating or have trouble with transitioning to different situations. A disaster can present all these difficulties at once.

The CDC’s Children and Youth With Special Healthcare Needs in Emergencies page provides tips for creating an emergency kit and practicing an emergency care plan to help children stay safe and feel calm during an emergency. It also includes tips on involving your child’s healthcare provider and local emergency services in your planning.