This article offers an outline for the components of disaster planning and response where considerations for family reunification should occur and describes the challenges and solutions within each. Challenges and solutions are described in 6 areas including practice and planning, clinical services, ancillary support, transportation and accommodations, communication and identification, and psychological support. Family reunification will be more successful if these challenges are understood and solutions are enacted.
Division of Emergency and Transport Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Reprint requests and correspondence: Alan L. Nager, MD, Division of Emergency and Transport Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd. MS #113, Los Angeles, CA 90027.
1 Co-Director, Education and Training Core, Pediatric Disaster Resource and Training Center, Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
ABSTRACT