PROTECTING KIDS IN CONNECTICUT

Children and Trauma

Help dealing with children who have suffered trauma in car accidents

Yale-New Haven Hospital offers excellent suggestions and resources for helping children who have suffered trauma.  They advise:

• Children cannot sustain emotional pain for long periods of time.   Remove them from the trauma scene to a secure environment as soon as possible.
• Do not reject their emotions - Children may have unexpected reactions to trauma which may not always include tears.
• Do not tell them how to feel or how not to feel.
• While this might seem backwards it is suggested by professionals to allow the child to comfort you.
• Be patient—they may need to ask the same questions over and over.
• Maintain order and stability in the child’s life.

In addition you might consider locating a grief counselor who has worked with children - one highly recommended source is the Cove of CT.