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Disaster Preparedness: Mental and Emotional Preparation for Our Little Ones

By: Ben Tanner

Emergency situations are unpredictable. These events might be frightening for adults, but they’re terrifying and traumatic for children. (Especially if they haven’t been taught what to do.)

Children need to be equipped with physical protection like a 72-hr-kit, food, water, and shelter, but they should also be prepared emotionally and mentally. If danger is near, children may become anxious, confused, and shaken. They need to be taught what to do and given guidance that will help reduce their fears. Children look to adults for help. A child will take queues from you based on how you react. If you stay calm, the child will also try to be calm. Your response to an emergency will have a lasting impact on an observing child.

Mental Preparation
• To prepare children mentally, put together a family evacuation plan and practice it with your children. Make it fun and interesting as you show them different evacuation routes, (escaping through different doors and windows).
• Provide your children, nearby family, and babysitters with a list of phone numbers they can refer to in case of an emergency. It should include your family's doctor, numbers of family members that are accessible, and other emergency numbers they can call in case anything happens. Keep this list in an easily accessible area. Make sure your child knows where the kit is at all times, and include it in their 72-hr-kit.

Emotional Preparation

• Comfort them. Let them ask questions or talk about their fears. Children are less afraid of things they understand.

• Assure them that there will be lots of ways they can find help if something happens. Let them know it’s important to tell someone of any danger they’re in. Explain to them that it’s important not to hide so that people know they’re safe and don’t get hurt looking for them.

Make sure you re-teach and remind children of these things as they grow, and as often as you make new plans.

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Emergency situations are unpredictable. These events might be frightening for adults, but they’re terrifying and traumatic for children. (Especially if they haven’t been taught what to do.) Children need to be equipped with physical protection like a 72-hr-kit, food, water, and shelter, but t

For the best emergency tips visit http://www.thereadystore.com

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