Help for all People in the First Days and Weeks

Key steps after a disaster can help adults cope. Adults can then provide better care for children. Create an environment of safety. Be calm. Be hopeful. Be friendly, even if people are difficult. Connect to others. Listen to their stories. But, listen only if they want to share. Encourage respect for adult decision-making.

In general help people:

• Get food
• Get a safe place to live
• Get help from a doctor or nurse if hurt
• Contact loved ones or friends
• Keep children with parents or relatives
• Become aware of available help
• Become aware of where to get help
• Understand what happened
• Understand what is being done
• Move towards meeting their own needs

Avoid certain things:

• Don’t force people to tell their stories
• Don’t probe for personal details.
• Do not Say:
  • “Everything will be OK.”
  • “At least you survived.”
  • What you think people should feel
  • How people should have acted
  • People suffered for personal behaviors or beliefs
  • Negative things about available help
• Don’t make promises that you can’t keep
  • (Ex: “You will go home soon.”)

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