Irwin Redlener

“If we ensure access to health care and 'best practice' asthma treatment for children, especially those at high risk, there is the potential to save the health care system billions of dollars.”

“Every school should have well-rehearsed emergency response protocols covering a variety of possible scenarios, from fire to armed intruders. Schools should have good lines of communications with local emergency response officials and practice those relationships in drills and special exercises.”

“The larger the disaster, the more necessary it is to have the government as the principal driver of recovery.”

“Immigrant children are highly vulnerable. Their level of disadvantage and fragility has consistently grown due to factors outside their control.”

“Even the best community organizations and faith-based initiatives and the extraordinary charity of Americans across the country can't carry the brunt of eliminating poverty.”

“Poverty-fighting programs are not handouts - they are investments.”

“Every single administration in American political history has put cronies and pals and donors into political positions. But normally those people become the ambassador to Liechtenstein or the deputy undersecretary of commerce.”

“The reality is that it's harder to recruit pediatric subspecialists if you're not recruiting them for a children's hospital.”

“There are several very good websites which describe the details of preparedness planning for citizens.”

“The best way to get a sense of what kinds of emergencies might present themselves in your community is by contacting local chapters of the American Red Cross or offices of emergency management in the region or state. Most large cities will have their own offices of emergency management.”

“Police officers and firemen are so visible in their daily work, there's no mistaking they're there - and that presence makes people feel secure.”

“When children are hungry, sleepy from a night spent fighting untreated asthma, or hobbled by symptoms of undiagnosed illnesses, they are less likely to do well in school.”

“Medicaid and the Child Health Insurance Program are the two most important safety net programs for children.”

“The problem with most children's hospitals is that they are passive. They are high quality. They are filled with the best doctors. But their function is to wait until kids get sick and get referred in.”