Simple Steps to Prepare Your Family
Taking a few simple steps now can help your family feel more prepared and confident during an emergency. These actions support safety and help reduce stress when something unexpected happens.
- Teach Kids How to Call 911: Practice with your child how to call 911, what to say, and when it is appropriate to use it. Make sure they know their full name, address, and a trusted adult’s name.
- Create a Family Emergency Plan: Talk through what to do in different situations, such as severe weather or a medical emergency. Decide where to meet if you are separated and how to communicate if phones are not working.
- Practice Basic First Aid: Learn and review simple first aid skills for cuts, burns, allergic reactions, and choking. Practicing together can help children feel less afraid and more prepared.
- Build a Kid-Friendly Emergency Kit: Include child-size medications, comfort items like a small toy or blanket, snacks, and water. Check the kit regularly and update it as your child grows.
- Post Emergency Contacts: Keep an up-to-date list of important phone numbers on the refrigerator and saved in your phone. Include contacts for caregivers, relatives, and health care providers.
- Share Medical Information: Make sure caregivers and family members know about your child’s allergies, medications, and health conditions. Keep this information easy to find in case of an emergency.
- Stay Calm and Reassuring: Children often look to adults for cues during stressful situations. Practice staying calm, speaking clearly, and offering reassurance so children know what to do and feel supported.
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