How To Prepare Your Child For Emergencies When You’re Not Around
Being a working parent can be stressful when you aren’t always aware of what happens at home or school, where your child spends most of their time in your absence. Your child facing an emergency when you are not around is the last thing you want to consider. Read on to discover how to prepare your child for emergencies when you’re not around.
1. Start with Open Communication
Your child’s understanding of what happens during an emergency can be their first defence. This is why having honest, age-appropriate conversations about potential emergencies can improve their situational awareness and how they react when faced with danger. Starting with open communication can include:
- Explaining what to do if there’s a home emergency or a medical issue.
- Using simple, reassuring language to keep them from feeling overwhelmed and stay calm during life-threatening events.
- Encouraging them to ask questions and answer with clarity.
2. Teach Them to Identify Emergencies
Even though not every situation requires urgent action, teaching your child how to differentiate between emergencies and minor issues is still important. Helping them recognise warning signs can help them prepare for various scenarios. Additionally, it can help them know when it’s appropriate to access the FREE-to-use iER App for immediate emergency assistance.
These are some warning signals you can help them identify:
- Smoke or unusual smells which indicate a fire.
- Symptoms of illness or injury that need immediate attention.
- Unsafe situations, like being approached by a stranger or getting lost.
3. Basic Emergency Skills Every Child Should Know
Teaching your child basic emergency skills can be a lifesaver when dealing with life-threatening situations. This can provide knowledge to improve their safety and offer you peace of mind. Valuable skills your child should know include:
- Calling for Help: Teach them how and when to dial emergency numbers like 10111 and access the FREE-to-use iER App. Practice role-playing scenarios in which they explain different situations calmly to an operator.
- Personal Information: Ensure they can recite their full name, home address, and contact number.
- Home Safety Basics: Show them where the emergency exits, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit are located and teach them how to use these tools safely.
- Water Safety: If they spend time near water, teach them how to float, tread water, and recognise signs of drowning. Stress the importance of never swimming alone.
- Recognising and Avoiding Hazards: Teach them to recognise dangers like electrical outlets, sharp objects, or toxic substances. Emphasise the importance of staying calm and alerting an adult when something seems unsafe.
4. Emergency Kits and Tools for Kids
Equipping your child with emergency kits and tools can help them feel prepared and confident in emergencies. Lightweight and easy-to-use supplies can be sufficient for their needs. Here are some simple, child-friendly tools to include when making an emergency kit for your child:
- A flashlight with extra batteries.
- A whistle to call for help.
- Basic first aid supplies like plasters and antiseptic wipes.
- A list of emergency contacts written in large, clear letters.
- Label everything and walk your child through each item’s purpose and use.
5. Role-Playing Scenarios
Did you know that role-playing scenarios can help children internalise their responses? This can help remind them what to do in a real-life scenario. Preparing your child for emergency safety can include:
- Practising fire drills at home by imitating a practical scenario that might require crawling low under smoke and finding the nearest exit.
- Teaching them to stay in one spot and look for a trusted adult, like a security guard, for help when they’re lost.
- Role-playing scenarios where they respond firmly and confidently to someone they don’t know.
- Repeating these drills regularly to reinforce the steps and build confidence.
6. Set Up a Safety Network
They should know how to identify trusted adults they can rely on if you’re unavailable. This network might include your neighbours, family and friends. However, you should discuss contacting this emergency network when they can’t reach you. Most importantly, communicate with these chosen individuals to determine if they can be relied on should your child’s safety depend on them.
7. Use Technology Wisely
Leverage technology like the FREE-to-use iER App to bridge the gap when you’re not around. If they have a smartphone, ensure you download this trusted emergency response app so they can familiarise themselves with how the silent alert and panic button features work. Test the app with them when you select the “test” alert option and take them through the steps to ensure they’re confident and comfortable using it even when you’re not around.
Preparation means everything when your goal is protecting your child during emergencies. By encouraging open communication, teaching basic survival skills, and practising regularly, you’re equipping them with the mindset to face challenges confidently even when you can’t be by their side. The FREE-to-use iER App makes it easier for anyone, regardless of age, to access immediate emergency response and connect to over 18,000 medical and non-medical service providers nationwide.
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