Emergencies can happen anytime and without warning. These events can be frightening for adults, but when children don't know what to do, emergencies they are cab be traumatic for children if they don't know what to do.
- During an emergency, your family may have to leave your home and daily routine. Children may become anxious, confused, or frightened. It is important to give children guidance that will help them reduce their fears.
Advice to parents: Prepare for emergencies
- Create an emergency plan with your family (link to Make a Plan page) and practice it so that everyone will remember what to do when emergencies happen
- Pack child care supplies as well as games and small toys in your family's Go Bag and Shelter in Place kit. (link to Get a Kit page)
- Find out what your child's school does in the event of an emergency and know the school's emergency plans
- Find out where you can pick up your child during an evacuation. (link to Make a Kit page) (note new link)
- Ensure that the school has up-to-date contact information for you and at least one other relative or friend
- Find out if you can authorize a friend or relative to pick up your children in an emergency. if you cannot.
Every child should know:
- How to recognize danger signals. Make sure your child knows what smoke alarms, fire alarms and local community warning systems (horns, sirens) sound like.
- How to call for help
- Teach your child how and when to call 9-1-1
- Even very young children can be taught how and when to call for emergency assistance
- Check the telephone directory for local emergency phone numbers and post these phone numbers by all telephones
- Family contact information for use in an emergency
- Never touch wires lying on the ground or hanging from poles
- How to identify the smell of gas. Tell them that if they smell it, they should tell a grown-up or leave the building.
Talking to children about emergencies:
Children can be afraid during an emergency, and after it is over.
- Sometimes a child will be more afraid of the dark, or will cry more. Children might be more afraid of being alone. They might be worried a lot. We must tell our children that they are safe. Ask them to talk about their fears. Let them know that they are not to blame for the emergency.
Reassurance is important:
Children are particularly vulnerable to emotional stress after a disaster and may exhibit excessive fear of the dark, crying, fear of being alone and constant worry. Reassure children that they are safe. Encourage them to talk about their fears, emphasize that they are not responsible for what happened, and comfort them.
Learn more about children and their response to disasters at the American Red Cross website.
More resources for kids:
Ready Kids
FEMA for Kids
Philadelphia Fire Department Kid Zone