Seemingly minor accidents can create a loud noise and strong jolt, which can be very frightening and cause a child to scream and cry in distress for several hours. Approximately 15% – 25% of children involved in car accidents develop symptoms of depression, even months after the accident.
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In Oregon, recent statistics indicate almost 4,900 children were involved in reportable injury auto crashes each year.Ĭar accidents can be especially traumatic for children even though they may not be physically injured. It is estimated, approximately 176,000 children under 15 years of age are involved in injury crashes each year. Even Minor Crashes Create Emotional Stress The team was able to identify child PTSD symptoms, also known as emotional “red flags,” and develop a program to educate and treat both parents and the kids. The children were suffering from traumatic stress caused by what they felt and witnessed during the accident. Realizing that the situation was not getting better, the parents sought the help of a pediatric medical team specifically trained in recognizing and dealing with emotional stress in children.
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Weeks following the accident, physical injuries healed, but emotional injuries began to surface – fear, anxiety, crying, and nightmares. After a lights and siren ambulance ride to the hospital, a very soft spoken pediatric nurse was able to comfort the children and reassure them everything was going to be okay.
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The aftermath was a very familiar scene: initial shock, police, paramedics, and inconsolable crying kids. Thankfully there were no long-term, serious injuries. Today, I’d like to review child PTSD symptoms, and ways you can help your child cope and heal emotionally after a car accident.Ī relative of mine recently fell victim of a hit-and-run car crash with her two children in the car, ages 4 and 7. Identifying Child PTSD Symptoms Following an Accident