Like most families we try to be prepared. Accidents and emergencies happen. If we can teach our children what to do they will feel more confident if somethings comes up. We all hope our kids won’t have to use this information, but it’s important they have it.
Family Night: Home Safety Lesson
Twice a year we like to go over our home safety plan. We gather as a family and talk. The main focus is what to do if there is a fire. Go over these talking points with your family so everyone can be prepared. If your kids are older you might want to show them the safety training episode of The Office on what NOT to do.
- How to safely exit your home.
- Where will your family gather if there is an emergency.
- How do you call 911
- What to do if you are trapped in a room.
We like to draw a picture of our home on white paper. We point out all the windows and doors. We ask our children if they were in the “________” room how would they exit. We have them start by using their finger to point the path they would take.
Teach how to check a door to see if it’s safe to open. Feeling the door will help you know if it’s hot and safe to open. And what should your family do if there is smoke in the room. Show them how to crawl to try and avoid smoke. You may want to test your fire alarms and show the kids the noise it will make if it goes off.
Another great thing to talk about is what to do if you are trapped in a room. They should close the door so smoke won’t come in that room. Then show them how to stuff towels or clothes at the base of the door to prevent smoke entering. Open the window and hang out a blanket so others will know someone is in that room. I have also talked to fire fighters who say to throw out items on to the floor. As they circle the building they will see home items on the floor and know someone is in that room. Your family might want to buy an emergency escape ladder to help kids leave their room safely. If you do get one be sure to try it out so they feel comfortable doing it by themselves.
I also like to talk to my kids about helping each other. Ideally they would help each other get out safely, older siblings helping younger siblings. But if a dresser fell over and one child was stuck under I told them it would be okay to leave. The best way to help may be to tell an adult. It’s hard to always know what to do which is why I want them to try to listen to the Holy Ghost or their gut.
I encourage my children to listen to the Holy Ghost to know how and when to help others. Also I don’t want my kids to feel responsible to make sure everyone is out of the house. If my family is scattered they should escape as soon as they can, helping family members who are close to them. This would be the only time to yell fire in our home. I’ve told my kids before when we have had babies that I will be responsible for getting the baby. The exception would be if the baby was in the same room or their care.
Go over your meeting place. It should be a bit away from your home in case there is a fire. Let them know they can escape and then call 911 at a neighbors house. Meeting together is important in case we need to tell the fire fighters who is missing.
After we have gone over this information we practice. I like to have my kids barefoot, in case the fire happens at night. Everyone is in different places when we hear the alarm. (Sometimes we just make a noise) My kids practice checking doors, crawling, and leaving our home. Sometimes they have to practice crossing the street barefoot and by themselves to get to our meeting place.
It can feel nervous as you do this as a family. But I know that if an emergency happened my kids would feel more comfortable because they were more prepared. Share with them that you know they are capable to handle an emergency. (I love having this Emergency Number Printable on my fridge.
I think we first started this as a scout requirement. It’s great to have your address listed in case you have a babysitter or you have a young child calling. I also love listing neighbors who we trust that my kids (or baby sitters) can call in case they can’t get a hold of us. These numbers are good for everyone to have on hand.
You can print this free printable on card stock so it’s a little more sturdier. Laminating it would be a great idea too. Also teach your children to memorize their address and phone number. These are good things to work on as a family.
We use this time to talk about how to take care of a diabetic emergency with our second son. It’s always good to review how to treat highs and lows. Take this time to review any special health concerns in your family.
In addition to fire, talk about other concerns that might happen in your area. We always went over earthquake preparedness when we lived in California. You may want to review other times it’s okay to call 9-1-1. This printable can help your kids feel confident about their address during a stressful time. Talk about the importance of calling 9-1-1. If any older child needs to take action, such as pulling a kid out of the pool, they should look at a sibling and tell them firmly to call 9-1-1.
Also take time to show your family where you keep your First Aid Kit and fire extinguisher. Review the basics or first aid, including washing a wound, how to stop bleeding, and treating a burn or bug bit. You may want this teach this during another family night.
I would love to hear how your family talks about emergency preparedness with each other. Feel free to share ideas in the comments below. Also contacting your local fire department might make your kids feel better. Police stations often have safety coloring books and resources.
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