The Important Part of a Great Plan is to have One!
Plans may be hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and seasonally.
Let’s start with a plan for this minute!
Preparing Children
Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
Acronyms are helpful for remembering things and here is a great one P.L.A.N
Protection
Shelter
Circle of Protection
Location
Middle Ground
Open Space
Acquiring
Air
Water
Fuel
Food
Medicine
Navigation
Signaling
Getting Home
Raising Safety Awareness
Protecting your family and home is most important. Every good lesson starts at the base, in this case at home with the parents. Children watch us very closely and mimic our actions. It is how we all learned to speak, walk and do many other things. Little ones look up to you and follow your lead. Be a good role model and lead by example. Make sure you close your windows and lock your doors when you leave the house. Have your child activate a security system so he learns to use one. Explain why it’s important and what could happen if you didn’t have a security system. Be kind, don’t make it a nightmare scenario, just a dose of reality by examples they can process. Explain that if a stranger came into the house and took the computers, we couldn’t watch videos. Make sure that they understand in a disaster, we are leaving our home for an unknown time and neighbors will be doing the same, so the risk of burglary is even higher. Don’t forget to lock up.
Go Bag
In case of a disaster, especially ones that aren’t predictable, have a bag ready in an easily accessible place. Children’s needs are different than ours and should be taken into consideration. Each child should have their own. Let them pack their bag and explain why they are doing this. Make sure they understand this stays put until it is needed and why. The bag should be lightweight and contain water, a change of clothes, something to entertain them like a deck of cards that can can entertain in many ways; to play child card games, build card houses, castles and all kinds of neat stuff. A dry erase marker and piece of white vinyl table cloth can keep them busy drawing and be re-used. A few balloons can be blown up quickly and double as a ball. Add a flashlight and some snacks with a long shelf life (i.e. granola bars or dried fruit). These are light and go a long way. You’ll be grateful you have this and so will they.
Escape Routes & Shelters
Make sure you know where the escape routes and shelters in your area are. Show children where they are and explain what they’re for. Some designated shelters are used for other purposes until they have to be used as one. Schools often double as shelters. Once you know where the closest shelter is, take children there, explain the purpose of a shelter and decide on a meeting point. If separated from children, they have to know where they can find you. Establishing this meeting point now and making sure they know where it is will help them feel more confident in a situation. They may be at school and you’re at work when disaster strikes, that’s why it’s important to have this information firmly implanted in their minds now.
Drillercising
Periodically you should stage drills for emergency situations. These can be fun, impart vital information to children and keep you on your toes. This is the best way to see if there are flaws in execution. Have a game plan for any situation. You can stage:
◾An electricity fall out at night. Turn the main switch and you will be simulating the situation you want to practice. Everyone should know where the flashlights are and how to reach them. Let your children get a feel for what it’s like being without electricity; leave the lights off until the next day (Once they’re asleep turn the lights back on, you don’t want your freezer to thaw).
◾An emergency evacuation for a earthquake. Limit the time everyone has to get out of the house and don’t let them take longer. Have everyone grab their bags and actually drive the escape route to nearest shelter. Since it probably won’t be accessible, stay in the car and demonstrate how in these situations you may have to make due with little space and only have what you brought with you.
◾A fire in your house. How long does it take to get out? Time these things, set goals to get better at it. Show children where the fire extinguishers are and how and when to use. If you have gas, show children where the shut off is and have them practice shutting it off. Visit a fire station with them. where they explain the hazards, what can be done to avoid them and what to be, have and do in various situations.
Safety Quiz
Make a list of the things your child needs to know in case of an emergency, like where the flashlights, matches, tools, go bags are etc. Make it a game to win prizes. If you are going to ask 10 questions you can offer for;
◾5-6 correct answers wins a favorite drink,
◾7-8 wins their favorite foods
◾9 rent their favorite movie
◾10 wins them a movie, favorite drink and food.
It is easy to prepare your child for any disaster!
The important thing is to keep it playful and repeat it often enough so it sinks in. A prepared child is a much safer child and makes for a much more relaxed and confident parent. Knowing that your child will know exactly what to do in case of an emergency is priceless.
1. Create an evacuation plan including an emergency meeting area for family members, multiple evacuation routes, a list of emergency phone numbers. Having this checklist on hand will keep evacuation organized.
2. Assemble evacuation bags.
3. Place bags in an easy to access area.
4. As a family, discuss the evacuation plan, and include a discussion on the protocol and emergency exits.