Note: Today is day 10 of National Preparedness Month. You can follow this month long campaign on Twitter by searching for the #NPM10 hash tag.
# 4890
As any Boy Scout will tell you, preparedness isn’t just for adults.
And the Federal government obviously agrees since they maintain a website called Ready Kids as part of the Ready.gov program.
Here you’ll find a fun, interactive way to introduce young kids to preparedness. Something that should be part of every child’s early education.
As a former scout myself, I learned elementary first aid, map reading, woodcraft & survival skills, and a host of other valuable lessons before I was even a teenager.
Growing up as young boy aboard a boat on the west coast of Florida, I learned about weather hazards, including tropical storms and lightning, and became an excellent swimmer.
During the Cuban Missile crisis, I even got the short course in radiation sickness, fallout shelters, `duck & cover’ drills, and emergency evacuations from my local school.
While I certainly don’t advocate that preparedness lessons be taught to kids today in such a stark and disturbing fashion - the Ready Kids site shows that the subject can be approached in a child-friendly non-threatening manner.
Later, while still in high school, I took Red Cross First Aid training at the local fire department. Shortly after graduation, I took part in several rescues and helped to set up an emergency aid shelter during Hurricane Agnes, and a few months later was working on an ambulance.
Going full circle, a few years later as a Paramedic and a Red Cross CPR instructor, I taught hundreds of high school kids how to perform CPR.
One day, my partner and I rolled up on a heart attack scene, and found one of my students doing effective CPR on his grandfather . . . and yes, I’m happy to report his grandfather survived.
For my family, general preparedness was just considered common sense. Something to learn, and practice, and make into a lifelong habit.
And that attitude has served me well over the years.
In addition to the Ready Kids site above, FEMA has released some ideas on how to get kids involved in preparedness.
Get Children Involved In Disaster Planning: It Helps Calm Their Fears
Release Date: September 9, 2010
Release Number: 1931-056LAREDO, Texas -- When family life is disrupted by a natural disaster, children often feel vulnerable or just plain scared. Well-thought-out plans that involve them in pre-disaster and post-disaster activities can help calm their fears. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) web site, "Ready Kids," is designed for children; it has fun quizzes and games. At the same time, the site helps families prepare for a disaster.
One of the most important first steps is to have children help stock an Emergency Supply Kit. They can help decide what should go in the kit and why, and help choose how it will be stored and where. The Ready Kids Web site explains the kit's contents and provides materials in a format kids will enjoy while they are learning.
"Parents will be delighted at the non-threatening way disaster information is provided on the Ready Kids website," said Federal Coordinating Officer Brad Harris. "We invite parents to check the site and to order and use the posters, videos and other items for children offered there. The materials are free." The toll free number to call is 1-800-480-2520.
Many things can be done with children to protect the home and family before a disaster strikes. Here are some suggestions:
- Listen together for weather updates and stay in touch with neighbors about ways to evacuate if the order is given;
- Practice evacuation drills;
- Discuss where the family will gather if separated during a disaster;
- Decide on an out-of-state relative or friend whom family members can call to let others know they are safe;
- Stock up on water and canned foods;
- If the child is old enough, practice shutting off utilities together;
- Compile a list of "pet-friendly" places to leave the family pet if it becomes necessary;
- Practice with pets when doing evacuation drills; have children put identifying collars on pets; and
- Teach children basic first-aid steps, like applying bandages.
Solid advice for any parent or guardian.
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