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Environment for a place of living
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Is the child sleeping? |
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It is very stressful for children to live among strangers or in a strange place. It is important for them to have enough and good sleep to be full of energy.
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Is the toilet facility suitable for the child use? |
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It's very important to respect children's privacy.
As children who are old enough to use the toilet by themselves also feel embarrassed when using the toilet, they may avoid it when strangers are around. It is reported that some children refrain from eating and drinking to avoid using the toilet.
Also in many cases toilets are set up outside of shelter and/or evacuation site, some children are frightened to use the toilet because of the fear of confinement. Claustrophobia, agoraphobia |
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Being considerate to others |
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Children will naturally cry out and speak loudly. Since a lot of people are living together in shelter and evacuation site, both parent(s) and children must be constantly under pressure from being considerate to others. It is necessary to provide a time and a place to relieve stress.
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Sanitary situation
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Temperature and humidity |
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Lighting, smells, sounds |
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Washing hands and gargling |
One of the most important of nursing care is to keep the shelter and/or evacuation site hygienic. The type of care provided depends on the season and the condition of the living place. For example, during the winter, ventilation and washing one's hands is very important. If kerosene is used for heating, it is necessary to regularly let fresh air into the room. Pay particular attention to places where children sleep, as the air current might be poor. Also washing one's hands and gargling is one of the most effective ways as prevention from catching cold in the winter. As shelter and/or evacuate site is a place where a lot of people live together, it is important to use flue masks and to set up places for washing one's hands and gargling, especially where water is hard to secure.
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Play environment
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Are playing places secured?
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Are they under supervision? |
Children express their feelings through play. After the disaster, repeatedly playing out the event they have gone through may serve as a role to put their hardships at the disaster as the things in the past. They may demolish or destroy things as play. As long as such play is harmless, it is better not to stop them. However, if the children could harm others, it is important to offer other acceptable options that let them express their feelings such as drawing, or playing with toy blocks or stuffed animals.
On the other hand, it is important to avoid forcing them to express their feelings. Since older children may keep a diary or draw to feel better, as well as talk about their experiences, it is necessary to have these materials for them. It is necessary to have caregivers for small children and school-aged children (in lower grades) and to create group play activities for them, while their parent(s) or a family member is away from them to rebuild their lives and the lives of their families.
Participation of volunteer students and volunteer nurses is desired.
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Things children need for their daily living (ensure sufficient supplies)
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Infants |
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diaper, milk (hot water and sterilizer), baby foods, wet paper wiper for diaper changes
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Small children and school-aged children |
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crayons, colored pencils, pastel crayons, toy blocks, stuffed animals (for expression of their feelings)
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Back to "What kind of children are they?"
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Assessing how the children are living and their environment
