Five Key Ways To Actively Involve Your Child In Your Disaster Preparations

When disaster strikes, will your family be prepared to cope with an emergency? Fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, and the lingering threat of terrorism attacks are all, sadly, common occurrences. Learning to actively prepare for potential disasters is one of the most important things you and your family can do.

Many parents try to shield their children from these threats by not talking about potential disasters for fear of scaring their children. While this is a normal impulse, teaching your child about disaster preparation is one of the most important things you can teach them. Talking openly yet calmly about what to do in case of an emergency can imbue your child with a sense of confidence and security, and make them much safer in the long run. Moreover, the process of learning about and preparing for potential disasters can be fun for you and your child to do together. Most children enjoy learning about safety and being involved in keeping their family safe. Here are five key ways to actively involve your child in learning to prepare for potential disasters.

1. Learn about the specific dangers of your home and local area. If you have children, discuss what sort of natural disasters might strike in your area. If possible, pay a visit to your local Red Cross chapter or call your local government emergency office. These types of agencies usually have coloring books, posters, and videos aimed specifically at teaching young children disaster preparedness. Some agencies even have training programs just for kids. Enrolling your child in a kids CPR course is also a good idea.

Remember, the goal of this discussion is not to alarm or frighten your children. Be calm and reassure your children that they are very safe, but it's important that they learn what to do in case of an emergency. Learning what to do when faced with home hazards and natural disasters will give your child a sense of confidence and security.

2. Make a family emergency plan. Once you have discussed the potential hazards in your home and local area, call a family meeting to draw up a specific family emergency plan. Talk with your child about what you would do in the case of an unexpected emergency. If the emergency strikes while your child is at school and you are at work, how will you meet? Establish an emergency contact person. This might be a neighbor, a nearby relative, or a friend. Write down your child's emergency contact information and have them carry it with them in their backpack to school every day.

Your family emergency plan should also include specific evacuation plans. With your child, come up with two routes for evacuating the house in case of fire. Choose a meeting spot in case of fire. This might be the front of the house, or a nearby neighbor.

In case of a larger disaster, establish an out-of-town family contact that both you and your children will call in case you become separated.

3. Put together a family disaster preparedness kit with your child. What child doesn't enjoy going shopping? Make a checklist of everything you should have in your kit. At a minimum, this should include fresh water supplies, non-perishable food, batteries, flashlights, emergency contact information, and an emergency first-aid kit.

With your child, choose a location in your home where you can keep your disaster preparedness supplies. Ideally, this will be a cool, dark location within reach of your child, but where the items will remain safe.

4. Go on a home hazard hunt with your child. This is an easy and fun way to get your child involved in learning about safety and disaster preparedness. Walk around your house and see how many hazards you and your child can locate together. Note potential fire hazards and appliances that can be dangerous when not operated correctly. If your children are older, teach them how to turn off the gas, electricity, and water utilities. Teach them how to spot the warning signs for turning off a utility. Also, older children should know how to operate a fire extinguisher. Simulate the steps for using a fire extinguisher. If your children are enthusiastic about learning about fire safety, consider scheduling a trip to your local fire department to learn more about fire safety.

5. Practice your family emergency plan. Having a family emergency plan in place is important, but without practice, many children may forget what to do when disaster strikes. Every six months or so, take an afternoon to practice your family emergency plan. Practice evacuating the house using your established evacuation routes. Emphasize the importance of getting out of the house safely and quickly.