Helping Families Cope After an Injury( The Children's Hospital of Philad...),Health

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Announces a $50,000 Grant from Verizon to help prevent traumatic stress in children after an injury

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is pleased to announce a $50,000 grant received today to help prevent traumatic stress in children after an injury. Researchers at the Center are working with injured children and their families to develop effective screening tools and interventions that can be integrated into hospital trauma care. They are developing a state-of-the-art interactive Web site that will provide parents with easy access to credible information, tips, and practical tools to help support their injured children's emotional recovery.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080207/DC13382 )

"The generous grant from Verizon will allow us to include features to make our Web site accessible to the widest range of families, including those with limited computer access or skills," says Flaura Winston, M.D., Ph.D., founder and co-scientific director of the Center and a pediatrician at the Hospital. "Our Center primarily focuses on preventing injuries in children; but, it's also important to study the emotional impact of injuries when they do occur to promote recovery and prevent long-term psychological stress."

In prospective studies of children's and parents' reactions to traffic crashes and other medical emergencies, Center researchers have found that most families experience at least a few acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms within the first month after injury. Six months later, 1 in 6 of them still has clinically significant symptoms.

"Safety and health are among the greatest challenges families and communities face in the 21st century," said William B. Petersen, president of Verizon
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