No
matter how parents try to be always there for their children, it is physically
impossible to never leave their side. When children are in school or
parents are not home, kids have to learn to do things on their own. As
many precautions as parents take, some emergencies cannot be avoided and happen
when least expected. So while they are young, arm them with skills that
will prepare them for the worst.
Here
are 11 emergency basic skills that parents ought to teach their kids:
Numbers
to remember
Write
down emergency numbers for your kids to call. Make sure to put there your
mobile number, your office number, and other contact persons that will
immediately come to their rescue. Write down the police hotline, fire
bureau, hospital, and for easier recall, remind them of the 911 hotline.
When
calling government hotlines, teach your kids the proper way of reporting an
emergency. Calling
911 is probably one of the
simplest and one of the most important lessons you can teach a child.
Explain to the child what constitutes an emergency and what doesn’t.
Familiarize
them with the work of emergency workers in your community. Make them
understand that when a dispatcher takes his call, another one (who could be in
real danger) is being put on hold. Also, explain to him that in some
cities, prank calls to 911 are considered a crime. But when in doubt or
there is no adult around, tell them it’s better to make the call than be sorry.
Neighbor
favor
During
times of emergency, you will realize how important it is to be in good terms
with your neighbors. Make sure your kids know who your neighbors are and
encourage them to greet them “hello” and “good morning” whenever there is a
chance. It is important that your kids know that folks nearby can be
trusted.
When
you have to be away to do some errands, drop by your neighbor’s house and
politely ask them to watch over your kids and your house. It will also
help if you tour your kids and do some neighborhood
and community watch so
that they may familiarize themselves with the nearest emergency outposts and
the people next door.
Locks
and exits
Among
the common emergencies is when kids accidentally lock themselves in a room.
Teach your kids how to use keys and work the locks. Make sure you
keep spare keys in every room and tell your kids where you placed them.
In case there are no phone devices nearby, they can let themselves out
without panicking.
In
case of fire or when the main doors were accidentally locked, make sure your
kids know where the emergency exits are located.
Sounding
the alarm
To
keep kids safe around the house, teach them how alarm systems work and when
they are old enough, show how to operate them. Familiarize them with the
sound of an emergency alarm. At the same time, remind your kids to lock
the garage, doors, and windows. Show them the proper way of inspecting
the home so they would know when something doesn’t feel right.
Elderly
rescue
If
there are elders living with you at home, your kids must be fully aware of
their needs. There are several developments in assistive technology to
care for the elderly like video monitoring, mobility aides, bed detectors,
health sensors, etc. Assistive alarms are a cheaper alternative to care
providers. They are commonly installed to help care for elderly and alert
people at home when the patient experiences difficulty in breathing or falls
from the bed. Teach your kids how to read the monitors and recognize each
alert and how a life depends on it.
Beyond
band aid
Give
your kids a crash course in performing first aid. When kids are at play,
cuts and bruises are common. When they are in school or in a playground,
you can’t be with them all the time that is why it is important for them to
know how to tend to themselves.
Always
make sure they bring with them a first aid kit and let them know what’s in it.
Write a manual coupled with illustrations on how to treat playground
injuries like cuts, burns, and splinters. It will also help if you watch
first aid videos together. Give them a tour of the playground and show
them how to use playground equipment safely.
Beware
of bullies
Another
playground emergency is dealing with bullies. It is important to bully-proof
your child
before you send them out to school or a playground. Teach your kids basic
social skills and introduce them to kids and potential friends. Bullying
usually happens when parents and guardians are not around, so tell your kids to
avoid unsupervised areas. Also, make sure your kids appreciate the value
in walking away. Make them understand that it is completely okay.
Stranger
danger
Don’t
talk to strangers is a cliché that deserves to be taken seriously. Tell
them to never go with a stranger no matter what they say. If a stranger
asks for help or assistance, beg off. At the same time, remind them to
never open the door when someone they don’t know knocks.
Street
smart
As
soon as kids start going to school, among the most common emergencies are
getting lost or realizing that they are not there when you come pick them up.
Make sure your kids are not only technology smart but also street smart.
Teach them the easiest routes back home or to the places you frequent.
Teach
your child how to respond to his instincts. Play “what-ifs” and
familiarize them with how to deal with emergency situations when they are out
there alone.
Shopping
safety
Kids
often get excited when they enter a mall or grocery. Parents, who are
busy with their shopping list, sometimes let go of their child’s hand and lose
them in sight. Teach your kids how to approach store personnel and what
information to give. It is also important to set a meeting place in case
you lose them.
Disaster
alert
Disaster
drills are routinely performed in schools. It is strongly advised to
extend these in your home. At a time when hurricanes are more frequent
and cold snaps are more biting, it is required for all parents to teach their
kids how to deal with disaster emergencies and keep calm. Teach them the
proper safety position during earthquakes, involve them in creating a family
disaster plan and familiarize them with the nearest evacuation site. Keep
a survival kit and let them know how and when to use them.
Emergency
situations are serious so make it a commitment to
teach your kids how to deal with them and as much as possible, make teaching fun. Talk safety to
your kids early on and never underestimate what they can do. Safety is
every parent’s priority and part of it is making sure their kids are equipped
with the skills necessary to make sure they can take also take care of
themselves.
