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"It won't happen to me or my family!" is a common attitude for many. But in light of recent global devastations, disasters can happen to any of us. The message for us is to be prepared!
Disasters may strike quickly and without warning. These events can be frightening for adults. For children, they are traumatic. Your family may have to leave your home and daily routine. It is important to give children guidance that will help them reduce fears and anxiety. How the parent and/or care provider reacts to an emergency gives them models on how to act. Reassurance in words and actions is necessary to maintain calm in an unsettling situation.
Prepare for an emergency
Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for any disaster. Discuss the types of emergencies that are most likely to happen, such as severe weather situations and fire. Explain what to do in each situation. Discuss other possible or potential situations that may require emergency action. Every family member should understand his or her part in the family response and recovery efforts. Contact your local emergency management or civil defense office, or your local Red Cross for materials that describe how your family can create an individual Family Disaster Plan.
Teach your child how to recognize danger signals. Make sure your child knows what smoke detectors, fire alarms and local community warning systems sound like.
Explain how to call for help. Teach your child how and when to call for help. Post local emergency phone numbers by all telephones or in a handy, easy to see locations. Even very young children can be taught how and when to call for emergency assistance.
Teach children contact information
Help your child memorize important family information - family name, address and phone number. They should also know where to meet in case of an emergency. An out of state or out of town contact person is important. Often during local emergencies, an out of area contact number is easier to reach than local numbers. Children too young to memorize this information should have a small index card that lists emergency information to give to an adult, care provider or baby sitter. Refer to the American Red Cross website, www.redcross.org, for a printable Emergency Contact Card.
Practice with your children. Emergency drills will help family members know what to do in the event of a real emergency.
First aid and emergency kits
Prepare first aid and emergency kits. These should be kept within easy reach but out of reach of young, curious children. One kit should be in the home, another in the garage and separate kits in each vehicle. First aid kits should accompany families on each outing. A well-stocked kit should be in containers that are roomy, durable, easy to carry and simple to open. Plastic tackle boxes or containers for storing art supplies are ideal. Check the kit on a regular basis. Replace missing items or medicines that may have expired.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends your kit include:
First Aid Manual, 2 and 3 inch sterile roll bandages, Safety pins, Sterile Adhesive Bandages, Cleansing agent/soap, Laxative, Latex gloves, Scissors, tweezers, and needle, Sunscreen, 2 and 4 inch sterile gauze pads, Triangular bandages, Thermometer,
Non prescription drugs, Moistened novelettes, Anti-diarrhea medication, Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever, Petroleum jelly or other lubricant, *Syrup of Ipecac* (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center).
Emergency kits are also a critical part of the family disaster plan. These should contain personal papers, records and personal information in a waterproof, portable container. Each family will have their own specific important documents. Copies of many of the suggested items will be sufficient rather than the originals, which should be stored in a fire proof location. Paper copies or scanned versions on a CD will keep space to a minimum. A copy might be sent to a trusted friend or relative for safekeeping. Emergency kits items should include:
- Identification cards for each family member such as drivers licenses, passports and social security cards.
- Medicines and medical information (prescriptions).
- Banking information.
- Credit card account numbers and companies.
- Legal and financial documents - wills, policies, contracts, deeds.
- Contact information for relatives, friends and business.
- Family records - birth, marriage and death certificates.
Be Prepared! Family Checklist
- Post emergency telephone numbers (fire, police, and ambulance) next to your telephone.
- Develop an emergency communication plan for connecting with your family if separated.
Pick two places to meet - 1) near your home in case of a home-based emergency,
2) outside of your neighborhood, in case you cannot return to your home or must leave your neighborhood. Be certain everyone knows the address and the phone number of your meeting locations.
- Quiz your children every six months so they remember what to do, meeting places, phone numbers and safety rules.
- Conduct a home hazard hunt. During a disaster, ordinary objects in your home can cause injury or damage. Anything that can move, fall, break or cause a fire is a home hazard.
- Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms. Smoke detectors reduce the chance of dying in a home fire by nearly 50 percent. Check batteries twice a year.
- Keep a portable, battery-operated radio or television on hand with extra batteries.
- Check fire extinguisher annually to ensure that it is properly charged.
- Conduct in-home fire drills at least twice a year.
- Keep first aid supplies on hand and in several locations in the home, car and garage.
- Review freshness dates for supplies annually.
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