Neighborhood children stunned by blast

CONCORD TOWNSHIP, Ohio - Ten-year-old Ryan Ross said he thought the world was coming to an end. At the least, he feared that his home had been destroyed by an explosion.

Actually, it was the home of a neighbor that was reduced to ruins early Sunday morning.

Many other kids in the comfortable Concord Township neighborhood of Holden Ridge, could face lingering psychological problems as a result of the blast that they witnessed and felt.

Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ellen Casper told NewsChannel5 that sudden, surprise trauma - like a neighbor's home exploding - can leave children feeling frightened and insecure for weeks after the event.

Casper advises parents to closely monitor their children and discuss their fears openly and honestly. She said parents should stress how rare neighborhood disasters are.

Casper also said that events like this serve as a good time to discuss all safety and security issues within a family.

[For more advice from Dr. Casper, click the video player. ]