With the Bomb Cyclone we just had, I began to think about Family Safety and what we would do if there was a real emergency, like a fire or a car accident. Would my kids know who to go to? Would those people be able to contact our emergency contacts so that my kids felt safe if something were to happen? And then, like parents often do, I began to worry about all the things that could happen and how we are not prepared.
To help myself calm down and hopefully help you be better prepared in the very unlikely chance of an emergency, I came up with a list tips for Family Emergency Preparation.
1. Make a plan and discuss it with your family.
Have an escape plan in case of a fire. Make sure that it includes a meeting spot and maybe a neighbor who can help a young child contact emergency personnel. Give the neighbor a list of emergency contacts, a close friend or family member who can get your children to a safe and warm location. We are lucky enough to have a neighborhood full of people who are more than willing to help anytime day or night. If you are not as lucky as us, put a contact list in a safe spot hidden somewhere near your meeting spot. In an emergency situation, your children will have the names and numbers of the people to call.
Once you have a plan in place, practice it often so that when an emergency does happen it will be habitual and automatic. You as a family will be able to stick to the plan without having to think about it.
Lastly, talk about your plan often. This will help keep your child calm in an emergency situation. If your child is scared when you first bring up the idea of an emergency plan, talk through it and let them express their fears so you can better respond.
Fire stations and police stations often have helpful information in creating an emergency plan and are usually willing to talk to your family.
2 Always have emergency contacts with you.
Children and even many adults no longer memorize phone numbers. It is good to have a list of emergency contacts on you at all times. I don’t mean on your phone because emergency personnel will not be able to unlock your phone and access your contact list.
I keep a note card in my wallet that has the following information on it.:
My Name
The names and birthdates of my children
Our address
The people to call in an emergency
And any medical conditions or special needs my child might have (for example, my son has a blanket (his comfort item) so there is a note about taking the blanket with him).
My kids are old enough to know where the emergency contact list is and they are even old enough to tell someone who to call, but I have seen people tape their contact list to the bottom of car seats. Some police stations will even give out stickers to place on the car seat with all of the important information.
3. Create Emergency Kits for your car and home
I remember when I got my very first car my parents gave me an emergency kit. This kit was HUGE! It took up most of the back of the little Ford Escort and it had everything I needed, including a work jumpsuit and a pair of boots. I always thought it was silly to have all that stuff in the back of my car. Now as an adult, having had more than one flat tire, I know how useful things like that can be. Even if you have roadside assistance, you never know where you might end up and if your cell phone will even work. My biggest fear is being stuck in the cold with two little kids on a dark and deserted road. Ok, that isn't my biggest fear. Aliens are, but this is a close second.
For your home, you want to keep an emergency kit which has enough provisions and flashlights to last you a few days. A few years ago when they were sending out tornado warnings I felt so unprepared. Tornados are rare in my area. As we watched the news of where the strongest storms were headed I was searching for flashlights, water bottles, and granola bars and stockpiling them in the closet under the stairs. I wish I had an emergency kit that day.
Here is a link from the Department of Homeland Security about what you should include in all Emergency Kits: https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit
4. Talk to your family
The only way any of these tips are effective is if your whole family is on board. Talk to your family about what to do in an emergency and where all the important items are. Practice your plan and update your emergency kits regularly.
5. DON'T Panic
This is key to any emergency situation. The calmer you are the calmer you will be able to keep the rest of your family. If you have followed items 1-4 you will be all set for any emergency (except for maybe Zombies, but if they come check back and I will have an updated list).
You can find more tips on preparing your family for an emergency by visiting our Pinterest board.
