Emergency Preparedness for Kids:

Quick Guide to Prepare your Kids for An Emergency

No one is sure enough when and where a disaster or any sort of emergencies will happen. It strikes quick and random often without warning and dealing with a natural or man-made disaster can be a stressful and nerve-racking experience for anyone, especially for kids.

Even adults are frightened and traumatized by these disasters, thus emergency preparedness must be discussed and upkeep by parents to their kids. Remember, not all the time that your kids are with you so in order to ensure their safety and survival, you need to prepare and train them for the worst-case scenarios.

Preppers are always ahead. Sure thing. How about preppers’ kids, are they preppers too? Emergency preparedness for kids is not just a girl scout or boy scout thing, it is rather arming your kids with extra knowledge and brisk mindset in times of apocalypse which kids might imagine in movies.

How you do you prepare your children for a season of emergencies? Read this page and take a tour of this guide in Emergency Preparedness for Kids plus quick tips to prepare your kids right away.

Talk About Disasters in Advance

Disasters come in many forms and strength, they pay surprise visit oftentimes, so the best way to welcome them is to prepare, prepare and prepare; this discussion with your kids in advance is very important.

Discuss Emergency Plan

When you involve your kids with your emergency plans, you’re giving them the sense of empowerment. You’re allowing them to be in charge, an autonomous child will hold the authority to your family’s safety too. Consider these tips:

·         Make and sketch an Evacuation Plan (they’ll surely enjoy this)

·         Condition their minds like what they have seen in the movie

·         Let them memorize important phone numbers (neighbor, health centers, 911, etc.)

·         Get a local map and a highlighter and determine important destinations and the

     routes to get there

Get a survival kit and discuss kit rules

Any disaster plan is complete with supplies, like food and water, medicine, tools, gears, and other else. Let your kids help you gather these supplies; this will encourage them to pay attention and take your advice keenly.

Make sure your kids know where the items are to be found, that these items are specifically used during emergencies and you may ask them what item or supply they want to add to the kit. Allow your kids to get it themselves to familiarize these items.

Practice / role-play

You can do this through a game with scenarios for your kids to test their knowledge. Perform scenarios according to their age and development. Do this occasionally like once or twice a year so that your kids are prepared to deal with emergencies as much as possible.

Role-playing emergency situations will reduce panic or anxiety in case of a real emergency occurs. Just make sure to process or discuss the game or scenario you played.

Approaches should differ depending on the age of the child. But even a 5-year-old may be able to understand the importance of having a place to meet up if something happens.  Giving kids a role in this situation, especially after they see disasters somewhere else, is an advantage to make them feel safer.

Guide Your Kids During the Splash of Disaster

The feeling of fear is natural but in times of emergencies, your kids are surely in a great mess. They will be looking clues on what to do and definitely look for you to rescue. Here are few things to keep in mind during the splash of disaster:

·         Keep calm.

This is the best weapon in any kind of catastrophes. Kids will surely calm when your parents will keep calm too. If you show any sign of distress, your kids may become more scared, noticing your fear as an indication that the danger is real. If you demonstrate calmness and in control, your kid may feel more confident and better able to cope up.

·         Stay indoors.

Listen to the news for updates and warnings. It is important to know what the officials and other person-in-charge instructions, whether the disaster is under control and just stay indoors or you need to evacuate from your house for safety.

·         Remove any electrical connected-wires as much as possible. This will help you lessen the possibility of catching radiation in your house or you can just turn off the main electrical switch.

·         Evacuate when local authorities’ told you to do so. When you need to evacuate, stay calm. Turn off the main electricity switch, close the windows, secure the safety of your house and bring your survival kit or go-bag.

Once a Kid Feels Afraid Is Really Afraid

Kid’s fears increased by their imagination, and never take these feelings for granted. Your words and actions surely suffice reassurance; just be sure to portray a realistic picture that is both honest and sincere.

During emergencies, things can always get out of control. But your kids will feel confident knowing that you’re doing your best for them. Posing hugs and building security is necessary during these times. So when you sit with your kids, make sure they know that you will do everything you can to keep him as always, no matter what the odds are.

Help Your Kids Recover After a Disaster

Know What to Expect

Kids depend on familiar and encoded routines. Once an emergency interrupts their system, they may become confused, frightened, or unwilling to perform and these may be expressed in a different manner like withdrawal, aloof or shyness and perhaps lead to aggressiveness and other extreme behavior.  

That is why, it is imperative to talk and explain to your kids what has happened in your house, your surroundings, the people or even the community you have lived in (in case worse scenarios happen). This allows them to internalize and reflect on what they have felt during the splash of disasters until it’s over.

Know What to Do

Be keen on your kids’ emotional and psychological state by asking first what is in their mind. Your kids need to participate in your family’s recovery activities and soon they will feel that things are getting back to normal.

Prevent your kids to watch or view television programs or news report about the event or any kind of disaster. It can be upsetting for them and possibly recall a tragic or a discomfort feeling, especially kids are too young to control and hold on to their feelings.

Know How to Help Kids Cope

Kids may not be aware that they are emotionally disturbed by the catastrophic experience you had in your family. You need to gradually know how to get rid of unfriendly symptoms. Here are few keys to help them recover:

·         Have a normal conversation and never brought up the topic first, wait until your kid opens up about it.

·         Expose your kids to an outdoor activity that will help his mind divert to a variety of things. You may consider camping, fishing or just play around your house like the normal thing you do.

·         Always give a positive reinforcement or positive regard towards your everyday discourse.

Ultimately, one of the most important ways you can minimize your kids’ stress and anxiety in an emergency situation is through coping well yourself.

 

Emergency Preparedness for Kids: Quick Guide to Prepare your Kids for An Emergency

 

Karen Pagan

Karen Pagan is the author for PreparedBee.com. She has been working with writing for over three years. She spends most of her off-work time reading books, practicing dance, and catching up with the new TV shows she’s been missing.  You can reach her at