Find ways to protect children from further exposure to trauma.

• Identify children in acute distress and stay with them until initial stabilisation occurs. Acute distress includes panic marked by trembling, agitation, rambling speech, becoming mute or erratic behaviour and intense grief showed by loud crying, rage or immobility.

• Use supportive and compassionate exchange such as holding warmly to make the child feel safe.

Parents and adults can help in following way:

• Explain the episode as well as you are able.

• Encourage children to express their feelings.

• Let children and adolescents know that it is normal to feel upset.

• Allow time for the youngsters to experience and talk about their feelings.

• If your children are fearful reassure them that you love them and will take care of them.

• If behaviour at bedtime is problem give the child extra time and assurance. Let him/ her sleep with light on or in your room for a limited time if necessary.

• Reassure children and adolescent that the traumatic event was not their fault.

• Do not criticise regressive behaviour or shame the child.

• Allow them to be sad.

• Encourage children and adolescents to feel in control. Let them make some decisions about meals, what to wear, what to do, etc.