One of the first responders to a traumatic event or tragedy is a member of law enforcement. Often, the tragic events have either just occurred or events are still unfolding. At these moments it is most important to assess the cause of the trauma and where possible remove or attempt to resolve the cause of the trauma first and then to move victims to safety. Because law enforcement officers are seen as a symbol of public safety, they are in an excellent position to raise community awareness about child abuse and neglect. Their perspective on the issue will carry significant weight with the media and the public at large. Because of this, many law enforcement agencies actively participate in community education efforts designed to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect and encourage reporting. The most common prevention programs are held in school settings and target extrafamilial sexual abuse. Officers conducting such programs must balance their presentations with material on abuse by relatives and caregivers if programs are to be effective for most potential victims.

Reactions to trauma may appear immediately after the traumatic event or days and even weeks later. Loss of trust in adults and fear of the event occurring again are responses seen in many children and adolescents who have been exposed to traumatic events. Other reactions vary according to age:

Children 5 years of age and younger reactions may include

• Fear of being separated from the parent,
• Crying, whimpering, screaming,
• Immobility and/or aimless motion, trembling,
• Frightened facial expressions and excessive clinging
• Returning to behaviors exhibited at earlier ages (regressive behaviors), thumb-sucking, bedwetting, fear of darkness.

Children 6 to 11 years old may experience

• Extreme withdrawal,
• Disruptive behavior, and/or inability to pay attention.
• Regressive behaviors,
• Nightmares, sleep problems,
• Irrational fears,
• Irritability,
• Refusal to attend school,
• Outbursts of anger and fighting
• Complain of stomachaches or other bodily symptoms
• Depress

Adolescents 12 to 17 years old may exhibit

• Flashbacks, nightmares,
• Emotional numbing,
• Avoidance of any reminders of the traumatic event,
• Depression,
• Substance abuse,
• Problems with peers, anti-social behavior.
• Withdrawal and isolation,
• Physical complaints,
• Suicidal thoughts,
• School avoidance, academic decline,
• Sleep disturbances, and confusion.
• Extreme guilt over his or her failure to prevent injury or loss of life
• Revenge fantasies that interfere with recovery from the trauma.

• Set appropriate boundaries and be consistent in both rewards and punishments
• Talk to each child's parents and teachers, and where appropriate physicians, and other service providers to know what is happening
• Listen to them, but don't force them to share; let it come naturally.
• Give honest information about the tragedy and deaths based on the child's maturity level. Always be truthful.
• It's okay to tell a child that you don't have all the answers to his or her questions
• Like adults, children grieve at their own pace. Respect where they are in that process