Since life can change in an instant, it always best to stay prepared.
Rather than shielding your children or family members from emergency situations like natural or man-made disasters, it is always best to educate them and involve everyone in emergency preparations. The following tips can help.
1. Teach your children what to do
Tell your kids when and how to call 911, and where to meet outside the house if a disaster strikes. Your children can also help you with the assembling of an emergency supply kit if required.
Do note that it is a good idea to review the emergency procedures with your children a couple of times a year to ensure they remember the same when the situation calls for the most.
2. Structure a realistic emergency plan
Figure out how’s your family going to get out of your apartment or house quickly (especially in situations where a fire is blocking the normal exits).
Also, designate a meeting place nearby – for example, the corner mailbox or the tree across the street, and likewise.
Do not forget to have a few contingency plans in hand based on your usual schedule (like what needs to be done if your child’s in daycare or you are at work).
3. Create a detailed list of emergency phone numbers
When you are in the middle of a crisis, it is not always easy to remember or find important phone numbers.
So set up emergency numbers on your phone way ahead of time, including your children’s school, work, and daycare (if applicable).
Also, include contact information of your family doctors, neighbors, hospitals, ambulance services, local police, fire, and the gas company.
4. Choose an out-of-area friend or a relative as an emergency contact person
During the times of a disaster, your local cell towers and phone lines may go down or overloaded with calls such that it becomes difficult for you to get in touch with everyone in your area.
That is precisely why you should consider choosing an out-of-area friend or a relative to be your family’s backup contact person.
Make sure that all of your family members have that person’s personal number, work number, and email address so that they can communicate quickly in the dire time of their need.
5. Be prepared at home
Install smoke detectors and check them regularly. Know how to shut off your water, gas, and electric service if the local officials instruct you to do so.
Also remember that if you shut off your gas, only a qualified professional should turn it back on. And in case you don’t know where your shut-offs are, feel free to ask your utility company.
So that more or less sums up this post. For more information on “emergency preparations and supplies,” refer to the following infographic.
Infographic created by LearnPick
