When thinking of emergency preparedness, it is often easy to focus solely on the emergency supplies and plans that are necessary for a successful response. While having supplies like medical kits, emergency food, and basic tools is important, family involvement can make all the difference when it comes to actually responding to an emergency or disaster. Family members can be part of the preparedness process and provide each other with comfort and support during and after an emergency. Family involvement in preparedness activities lead to increased preparedness knowledge, better coordination of resources, and improved communication, all of which can save lives during an emergency.
Involvement in emergency preparedness activities gives family members an opportunity to bond and learn from each other, which improves communication and strengthens family relationships. In his book, The Heart of Family: How to Be Connected and Become a Strong, Loving Family, author Jim Burns says, “Preparedness requires family members to unite, work together, and help each other out. It takes away from the notion of individualism and puts family first. This unified effort can be beneficial to the entire family unit as it teaches everyone to depend on one another during times of crisis.”
How Can I Involve My Family in Emergency Preparedness Activities?
Families need to discuss the emergency plans and make sure everyone is prepared. Use these activities to involve your family in the emergency preparedness process:
- Create an Emergency Plan: Encourage your family to come together to create an individualized emergency plan that is tailored to your family needs and special circumstances. Your plan should specify what your family is expected to do before, during, and after a disaster. Make sure everyone has a copy of this plan and understands it. Practice it once so that everyone knows what to do.
- Gather Emergency Supplies: Make sure everyone in your family understands the importance of having emergency supplies. Make it a family activity to gather supplies such as food, water, medical supplies, flashlights, matches, and anything else that you might need in an emergency. Split up the list and have each family member gather the supplies they can carry.
- Share Responsibilities: Having a plan in place is not enough. You must know who is responsible for each task. Divide up tasks and responsibilities to the different members of your family. This is especially important when having to evacuate your home.
- Choose a Designated Meeting Place: Choosing a designated meeting place makes it easier for your family to meet up should you need to evacuate. Make sure everyone knows what the meeting spot is and how to get there.
In addition to these activities, families can also use the internet, newspapers, TV, and radio to stay informed of any changes in the weather, fire danger, disease outbreaks, or other threats that may impact the family. Ensuring your family is informed and involved in preparedness activities will help keep them safe if an emergency does occur.
What Are Some Fun Ways to Teach Children About Emergency Preparedness?
Teaching your children about emergency preparedness can be fun and exciting. Here are some fun activities to engage your kids in learning about emergency preparedness:
- Create a Family Mascot: Have your family adopt an emergency mascot, such as a stuffed toy or a stuffed animal, that will always remind them of the importance of being prepared. Have everyone in the family work together to pick a name for the mascot and assign tasks to each family member.
- Create a Preparedness Kit: Have your kids create their own preparedness kit. They can use a backpack or a shoebox and fill it with supplies such as water, nonperishable snacks, a flashlight, first aid supplies, and other items. They will enjoy the activity and be more prepared in case of an emergency.
- Play a Preparedness Game: You can use games to teach children about preparedness. Create a board game or find an existing game, such as the Ready Made Family Preparedness Board Game, that encourages families to prepare for an emergency or disaster. Or you can create your own game involving an evacuation plan.
- Have a Preparedness Day: Designate a day of the month as Preparedness Day and set aside time for the whole family to discuss preparedness topics such as creating an evacuation plan and gathering supplies. Make it fun by providing snacks and playing preparedness-themed games.
Engaging your children in fun activities can help make the topic of emergency preparedness more approachable. These activities also help children to develop a better understanding of preparedness and will help them remember important safety tips.
What Are Some Family Emergency Drills We Can Practice?
Family emergency drills are an important part of preparedness. Regularly practicing drills will help your family stay prepared and make sure that everyone knows what to do if an emergency were to occur. When practicing drills, make sure to include the following:
- Evacuation: Teach your family how to quickly and safely evacuate in different situations. Designate a meeting spot and practice evacuating your home. Identify escape routes and practice going to a safer location.
- Hide: Teach your family how to hide quickly and safely in different situations. Identify the various hiding spots in the house, depending on the type of disaster, such as an intruder or wildfires. Practice hiding for a certain amount of time.
- Reconnect: Teach your family how to reconnect if they get separated during an evacuation or hide process. Designate an out of area person to contact in order to coordinate the family’s reconnection.
It is also important to practice drills in varying situations and scenarios. Make sure everyone in the family knows what to do if the power goes out, if there is an earthquake, or if there is a fire. It is also important to practice drills regularly to ensure your family is ready if an emergency were to occur.
“Practicing drills helps identify gaps in preparedness and ensures that each family member knows what to do when faced with an emergency.”
Regularly practicing family emergency drills can help prepare your family for the unexpected and make sure that everyone knows how to stay safe in case of an emergency. Preparedness is key to responding to and recovering from any kind of disaster, and practicing drills is one of the best ways to stay prepared.
References
- Burns, Jim. The Heart of Family: How to Be Connected and Become a Strong, Loving Family, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books
- Ready Made Family Preparedness Board Game.www.readymaderesources.com/ready-made-family-preparedness-board-game.html