Kids and Youth

Introduction

In the last half of 2000, Latin America and the Caribbean were not severely affected by hydrometeorological, seismic, environmental or technological emergencies. One possible exception was the eruption of the Popocatépetl volcano in Mexico.

Accordingly, we are going to use the Disasters in the Region section to present the following article, which is directed at children and the young, and written in a didactic manner that makes it ideal for use in the classroom. It is an excellent example of what this year’s World Disaster Reduction Campaign is all about: Disaster Reduction, Education and Youth.

After a Disaster: How to Help Child Victims
The following information is taken from the web site of the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the United States of America (FEMA) in their place FEMA KIDS
http://www.fema.gov/library/e_child.htm

Children who experience an initial traumatic event before they are 11 years old are three times more likely to develop psychological symptoms than those who experience their first trauma as a teenager or later. But children are able to cope better with a traumatic event if parents, friends, family, teachers and other adults support and help them with their experiences. Help should start as soon as possible after the event.

It’s important to remember that some children may never show distress because they don’t feel upset, while others may not give evidence of being upset for several weeks or even months. Other children may not show a change in behavior, but may still need your help.

Children may exhibit these behaviors after a disaster:

• Be upset over the loss of a favorite toy, blanket, teddy bear or other times that adults might consider insignificant, but which are important to the child.
• Change from being quiet, obedient and caring to loud, noisy and aggressive or may change from being outgoing to shy and afraid.
• Develop nighttime fears. They may be afraid to sleep alone at night, with the light off, to sleep in their own room, or have nightmares or bad dreams.
• Be afraid the event will reoccur.
• Become easily upset, crying and whining.
• Lose trust in adults. After all, their adults were not able to control the disaster.
• Revert to younger behavior such as bed wetting and thumb sucking.
• Not want parents out of their sight and refuse to go to school or childcare.
• Feel guilty that they caused the disaster because of something they had said or done.
• Become afraid of wind, rain or sudden loud noises.
• Have symptoms of illness, such as headaches, vomiting or fever.
• Worry about where they and their family will live.

Things Parents or Other Caring Adults Can Do

• Talk with the children about how they are feeling and listen without judgment. Let them know they can have own feelings, which might be different than others. It’s OK.
• Let the children take their time to figure things out and to have their feelings. Don’t rush them or pretend that they don’t think or feel as they do.
• Help them learn to use words that express their feelings, such as happy, sad, angry, mad and scared. Just be sure the words fit their feelings - not yours.
• Assure fearful children that you will be there to take care of them. Reassure them many times.
• Stay together as a family as much as possible.
• Go back as soon as possible to former routines or develop new ones. Maintain a regular schedule for the children.
• Reassure the children that the disaster was not their fault in any way.
• Let them have some control, such as choosing what outfit to wear or what meal to have for dinner.
• Help your children know that others love them and care about them by visiting, talking on the phone or writing to family members, friends and neighbors.
• Encourage the children to give or send pictures they have drawn or things they have written.
• Re-establish contact with extended family members.
• Help your children learn to trust adults again by keeping promises, including children in planning routines and outings.
• Help your children regain faith in the future by helping them develop plans for activities that will take place later - next week, next month.
• Children cope better when they are healthy, so be sure your children get needed healthcare as soon as possible.
• Make sure the children are getting balanced meals and eating enough food and getting enough rest.
• Remember to take care of yourself so you can take care of your children.
• Spend extra time with your children at bedtime. Read stories, rub their backs, listen to music, talk quietly about the day.
• If you will be away for a time, tell them where you are going and make sure you return or call at the time you say you will.
• Allow special privileges such as leaving the light on when they sleep for a period of time after the disaster.
• Limit their exposure to additional trauma, including news reports.
• Children should not be expected to be brave or tough, or to “not cry.”
• Don’t be afraid to “spoil” children in this period after a disaster.
• Don’t give children more information than they can handle about the disaster.
• Don’t minimize the event.
• Find ways to emphasize to the children that you love them.
• Allow the children to grieve losses.
• Develop positive anniversary activities to commemorate the event. These events may bring tears, but they are also a time to celebrate survival and the ability to get back to a normal life.

This information is provided by Beryl Cheal, an educator with
Disaster Training International, P.O. Box 30144, Seattle, WA 98103
Tel. (1-206) 781-0701, http://www.fema.gov/library/e_child.htm

Volcanoes
Jaquelina Michienzi
Senior Meteorologist
The Weather Channel Latin America

What is a volcano? It is an elevation on the surface of the Earth through which magma, associated gases, and ashes erupt; it is also the form or structure (usually conic) that is produced by the material ejected. The word “volcano” comes from Vulcan, who was the Roman god of fire.

Structure of a volcano

It is made up mostly of:

A magma chamber located several kilometers underground. It is usually thought of as having large dimensions, and it is believed that it is responsible, though not always, for the collapse of the cone structure of many volcanoes. When the chamber is left nearly empty after ejecting all of its content into the surface, the volcano loses stability and a part collapses under its own weight.

A pipe, which is the channel through which magma reaches the surface.

A cone, which is the visible part of a volcano, and is produced by layers of all the volcanic materials ejected through the pipe over many eruptions and years. A volcano is young when the cone is in perfect shape; an older volcano’s cone has often been destroyed by previous eruptions as well as atmospheric phenomena such as rain, wind, and the effect of glaciers. Volcanoes with very wrecked cones have erupted again after many years of inactivity.

A crater is the hole through which the magma is expelled, and it is on top of the volcano. The crater may be from a few hundred meters to several kilometers wide. When the cone of a volcano collapses, it forms a wider crater that is known as a cauldron.

What are the effects of volcanic ash on health?

One of the hazards caused by volcanic eruptions is the expulsion of ash, among other elements. It is worth knowing something about it, so as not to be frightened if we should be exposed to it by being in an affected area, whether we live there or are there as tourists.

• Depending on its components, volcanic ash can be very damaging to human health.
• Inhaling the ash can worsen lung diseases, asthma, and silicosis.
• It can cause stomach troubles due to drinking water contaminated with fluoride and possibly heavy metals such as arsenic or mercury. Food can also be contaminated, which is why experts recommend that water deposits and the food that is prepared and eaten in the open air be covered.
• Damage may also be caused to the eyes, such as conjunctivitis and abrasions of the cornea.
• Since the gases retained by ash are released gradually, they can cause respiratory problems and choking, especially in areas where the ash is abundant. The people who would be most affected would be those who suffer from respiratory troubles or allergies.
• People who are camping out should be careful because ashes can carry polluting materials that dissolve in rivers and springs, such as chloride and sulfates.
• In order to prevent stomach and respiratory problems, you should always have a first aid kit handy with the following items:

  - Rehydration Salts (Three packets per child)
  - Painkillers and antipyretics for children and grownups
  - Elastic bandages
  - Antiseptic alcohol
  - Cotton
  - Vaseline
  - A thermometer
  - A roll of sterile gauze
  - Antacids
  - A bottle of physiological serum per person
  - Eye drops
  - Ear drops
  - Drugs for people with asthma, high blood pressure and heart disease
  - Masks
  - Disinfectant for the skin

A very good question: What must we do before, during, and after a volcanic eruption?

Before:
... Prepare yourself mentally to prevent panic situations.
... If an eruption is expected, do not panic.
... Stay informed about the development of the phenomenon through the announcements from the authorities and scientific personnel.

Just before the eruption:
... Always have a mask or handkerchief you can put over your mouth.
... Know the evacuation routes.
... Cover water deposits to prevent contamination.
... Protect windows from possible breaking due to falling rocks. To protect yourself at home, the best places are the inner rooms that do not face the street or the backyard.
... Cover with adhesive tape the cracks around doors and windows to prevent the ash from getting in.
... Stay away from valleys and brooks close to the volcano in case there are mudflows.
... Make sure you have enough drinking water, non-perishable and tinned food for the next eight days, a medicine chest, water filters, disposable plates and glasses and forks and spoons, flashlights and candles.

During the eruption:
... Get together with your family in a safe place and pay special attention to children, senior citizens and people who are sick.
... While the eruption is underway, stay indoors and do not come out until the air is clean.
... Use the masks. You may also use wet towels or handkerchiefs.
... Protect your eyes and ears if the environment is contaminated.
... Should there be abundant fall of ash, do not drive to prevent accidents due to the increased darkness.
... If you are caught inside a car by the fall of ash, stay inside it with the windows and doors shut. If you can drive, do it slowly so as not to raise clouds of ashes.

After the eruption:
... Stay informed until the authorities announce that volcanic activity has stopped.
... If drains or dams are clogged, stay away from the area and immediately warn the authorities.
... If your house is at risk from mudflows remove yourself as soon as possible to a high place. It is also a good idea to reinforce the doors, lower windows and vulnerable walls in order to prevent the mud from getting into the house.

References
Instituto Geofísico, Escuela Politécnica Nacional de Quito, Ecuador
World Map of Volcanoes and Principal Aeronautical Features and Brochure by Thomas J. Casadevall and Theodore B. Thompson (U.S. Department of the Interior; U.S. Geological Survey)
USGS
Ecuadorciencia
Encyclopedia Britannica

For more information please contact:
Jaquelina Michienzi, Senior Meteorologist, The Weather Channel Latin America, TWCLA
Jmichienzi@weather.com
www.weather.com/espanol