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Preparing Children for an Emergency
• Before an earthquake
• During a earthquake
• After an earthquake
Disasters and emergencies are stressful for both children and adults;
however, preparation will reduce the stress level for all family members.
Before an Earthquake
- Discuss possible emergency situations in a family meeting that
includes the children and caregivers. Explain the dangers to children
and work with them as a team to prepare your family.
- Ask kids to discuss their concerns and feelings.
- Create a family communication plan so you can get in touch
with family members. Give copies of contact information and meeting
locations to everyone in the family.
- Explain to children that it may take time to get through to
everyone. Try to be patient.
- Know your children’s school or day care emergency plan.
- Keep school emergency contact information up to date.
Infants and Toddlers
- Cribs should be placed away from windows and tall, unsecured
bookcases and shelves that may fall during an earthquake or aftershock.
- A minimum of a 72-hour supply of extra water, formula, bottles,
food, juices, clothing, disposable diapers, baby wipes, thermometer,
and medications should be stored where it is most likely to be accessible
after an earthquake.
- Keep an extra diaper bag with emergency items in your car because
you may be in your car when during an earthquake.
- Store strollers, wagons, blankets and cribs with wheels to
evacuate infants, if necessary.
- Install bumper pads in cribs or bassinets to protect babies
during the shaking.
- Install latches on all cupboards (not just those young children
can reach) so that nothing can fall on your baby during an earthquake.
Preschool and School-age Children
- Show children the safest place to be in each room during an
earthquake. Also show them all possible exits from each room.
- Use sturdy tables to teach children to Duck, Cover & Hold.
- Teach children what to do wherever they are during an earthquake
(at school, in a tall building, outdoors, in a theatre, at the beach,
etc.)
- Make sure children’s emergency cards at school are up-to-date.
- Although children should not turn off any utility valves, it’s
important that they know what gas smells like. Advise children to tell
an adult if they smell gas after and earthquake.
Helping Children during an Earthquake
Adults can make disasters less traumatic for children by maintaining
a sense of calm during the event and following the family emergency
plan.
Helping Children Cope after an Earthquake
Problems you may see in your children:
- Excessive fear of darkness, separation, or being alone
- Clinging to parents, fear of strangers
- Worry
- Increase in immature behaviors
- May not want to go to school
- Changes in eating/sleeping behavior
- Bed-wetting or thumb-sucking
- Persistent nightmares
- Headaches or other physical complaints
Things you can do to help your child:
- Talk with your child about his/her feelings about the disaster.
Share your feels, too.
- Reassure your child that you are safe and together.
- Allow your child to grieve over the loss of cherished items.
- If you feel your child is having problems at school, talk to
his/her teacher so you can work together to help your child.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
American Red Cross
Children and Disasters
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_602_,00.html
Disaster Preparedness for Children
(English and Spanish) http://www.redcross.org/pubs/dspubs/childmtlsprt.pdf
City of Los Angeles – Department of Emergency Preparedness
Just for Kids
http://www.lacity.org/epd/epdppd.htm
Coping with Children’s Reactions to Earthquakes and Other Disasters
http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/emergencymgmt/pdfs/childcop.pdf
FEMA
Helping Children Cope http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/cope_child.shtm
FEMA for Kids
http://www.fema.gov/kids/
Office of Homeland Security
http://www.ready.gov/kids/home.html
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