How to Teach Your Kids to be Ready for an Emergency
I laid on my back on my garage floor as my young son stood over me. A moment before I had been working up on a ladder when it bumped it. I thought I was going to fall off. Instead of being upset, I channeled my energy into making this a learning moment.
I safely stepped off the ladder, laid out on my back, and asked him what he would do if I had fallen off. From there, we were able to go step by step through the process of calling 911 and letting the EMTs into our home. It was a great exercise.
Emergency Response for Kids
Far too often parents assume that their kids are prepared. And kids don’t think they can do what must be done because it’s new and dangerous. They don’t have the experience, so they don’t feel confident. But as our kids grow, they must learn how to respond to an unexpected event.
Emergencies are unpredictable and can happen when we least expect them, whether it’s a natural disaster, a medical crisis, or an accident at home. While it’s impossible to prevent these events, families can be ready when disaster strikes by creating a comprehensive family emergency plan.
One of the most important things parents can do is prepare their children for emergencies. Not only will this reduce panic in the moment, but it also empowers kids to take confident, appropriate action when faced with danger.
Why Family Emergency Planning is Important
Emergencies come in many forms, from natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes to house fires and medical emergencies. A family emergency plan provides a step-by-step strategy to follow in the event of a crisis.
This helps everyone in your household know what to do. The most important aspect of a family emergency plan is that it reduces confusion and panic during a chaotic situation, offering structure and clear steps when time is of the essence.
When families are unprepared, they are more likely to experience fear and indecision during emergencies. Simple tasks, such as finding a safe exit or communicating with other family members, become difficult without a plan in place. By creating a family emergency plan, parents can ensure their children feel safe and secure, knowing that there’s a system in place if an unexpected situation occurs.
Elements of a Family Emergency Plan
A family emergency plan should include:
Emergency contacts: Ensure that each family member has a list of emergency numbers and knows how to reach first responders or nearby relatives.
Meeting locations: Identify safe locations inside and outside your home where your family can meet if you are separated.
Evacuation routes: Familiarize yourself with local evacuation routes and rehearse them with your family.
Emergency kits: Put together kits with essential supplies (water, food, first aid, and more) for each family member.
Being proactive about family emergency planning is an essential step toward disaster preparedness, and it ensures that each member of your family, including children, knows what to do during an emergency.
Understanding Different Types of Emergencies
Not all emergencies are the same. Some, like hurricanes, offer warnings, while others, such as house fires, occur suddenly. To be truly prepared, it’s important to understand the types of emergencies that could affect your family and customize your plan accordingly.
Common Emergencies Families Should Prepare For:
Natural disasters: Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires.
Medical emergencies: Sudden illness or injury, such as choking, allergic reactions, or heart attacks.
Home accidents: Fires, gas leaks, family violence, or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Each type of emergency will require different responses, but the foundation of any family emergency plan should be knowing how to keep calm, communicating effectively, and having a plan for evacuation or shelter.
Involving children in understanding the various types of emergencies can help reduce their fear and confusion. Teaching them that there are solutions and steps to follow helps them feel more confident when faced with these situations.
Creating a Family Emergency Plan
Now that we understand the importance of planning and the types of emergencies to prepare for, we can now create a family emergency plan.
Step 1: Pick the emergency that you are preparing for. As before mentioned, the steps to prepare for a sudden house fire are vastly different than preparing for a hurricane.
Step 2: Identify Safe Locations and Meeting Points
Your plan should identify at least two safe meeting points:
In-home location: A central location inside the home where the family can gather during emergencies, such as severe weather.
Outside location: A spot outside the home where the family can regroup if evacuation is necessary (e.g., across the street or at a neighbor’s mailbox).
Step 3: Establish Communication Protocols
Have an open discussion with your family about who to call in an emergency. Make sure your children understand when and how to call 911, and have a list of emergency contacts (such as neighbors or relatives) posted in a visible place. Encourage children to memorize important phone numbers.
Also, it’s good to consider having a home phone that children can access. Tyring to pull a smartphone out of a parent’s pocket after an medical emergency may be too much. Instead, consider a wired home phone or a mobile phone that can be used as a house phone.
Step 4: Prepare Emergency Kits
Every family should have an emergency preparedness kit that contains basic supplies for at least 72 hours. These kits should include:
Water, non-perishable food, and medication
Flashlights, batteries, and first-aid supplies
Important documents, like copies of IDs and insurance policies
Comfort items for children, such as blankets, toys, and games. Uno cards are good for this.
Step 5: Assign Roles and Responsibilities
Involving children in the family emergency plan can help them feel empowered and ready. Assign age-appropriate responsibilities to each family member. For example, older children might be in charge of grabbing the emergency kit or looking after younger siblings. Just make sure they are mature enough to take on the responsibility.
Step 6: Practice
Once the plan is created, it’s important to rehearse it regularly with your family. Hold practice drills so your children can confidently react to different types of emergencies. The more comfortable they are with the plan, the more empowered they’ll feel in a real situation.
Disaster Preparedness for Kids: How to Teach and Empower
Teaching your children disaster preparedness*is more than just telling them about dangers. It's about showing them how to react in a way that keeps them safe. By providing children with the knowledge and tools to handle emergencies, parents help them feel empowered rather than scared.
Age-Appropriate Emergency Preparedness Tips:
Young children (ages 3-6): Teach them to recognize the sound of alarms (fire, smoke, and weather). Kids this age actually cannot hear smoke alarms. Use role-playing to show them where to go and what to do during different types of emergencies.
School-aged children (ages 7-12): Give them specific tasks, such as packing a small emergency bag with their favorite items. Teach them basic first aid, how to dial 911, and what to do if they get separated during an emergency.
Teens (ages 13+): Involve them more deeply in the planning process, and teach them additional skills like how to turn off utilities or provide first aid.
Child Empowerment: Building Confidence in Emergency Situations
When children are actively involved in disaster preparedness, they not only gain life-saving skills but also build the confidence to act when it matters most. Empowering kids means helping them understand that, even though emergencies can be frightening, they have the tools and knowledge to navigate through them safely. Plus they will keep these skils the rest of their lives.
Resources for Family Emergency Preparedness
For parents looking for additional support in creating a family emergency plan, there are plenty of resources available:
Conclusion: Take the First Steps Toward Emergency Readiness Today
Creating a family emergency plan is an essential step toward protecting your loved ones during times of crisis. By teaching your children emergency preparedness tips, you are helping them gain valuable skills that will last a lifetime. Take the first step today by sitting down with your family, creating a plan, and rehearsing it regularly. Together, you can be ready for whatever challenges may arise.
