Preparing children for emergency illness or accidents

According to a recent national survey commissioned by the Children’s Health Fund, approximately 65 percent of families in the United States do not have an emergency plan which all of the family are familiar with. This statistic, although not backed up with extra research is likely to be indicative for most of the western world.  From essentials like what to do in the case of fire, with an agreed escape route, through to answering the door and dealing with strangers – creating a safety plan and some basic rules will reassure both you and your children. Over the next few weeks, tips and hints on how to prepare your family for specific emergencies will be posted. This week will focus on Accidents and Illnesses.

Due to an ongoing illness, my husband has collapsed several times in the past fortnight; twice while at home and at times when I was not there, leaving my 4 and 6 year olds to cope with a prone figure on the kitchen floor.  This has prompted us to immediately  instigate our family emergency response plan with a preparation for future needs.

Children as young as 6 can be taught basic first aid techniques; though to be instructed by a qualified first aid provider, children need to be close to teenage years (check with local courses on specifics). Techniques such as burns control ( running it under a cold tap or getting cold wash cloth) and bleeding ( put hand or a cloth over wound and apply pressure) can be simply taught to most young children, but its important to  emphasize the importance of calling an ambulance first. An important step in your emergency plan is to make everyone in the family aware of specific medications such as inhalers or antihistamine shots. Its important that everyone know the location in case it is needed in a hurry.

Although a huge responsibility for children as young as mine, the necessity that they are able to perform a few tasks in sequence should there be no-one else around; has gifted them with a strong focus and need to learn it. With anything, individuals need to have a compelling reason to learn and remember something; so don’t think your children are too young to understand why its important to learn a skill or set of steps.

Our Steps, should Daddy ( or another person) collapse

• Talk to the to see if they are ok
• Shake or pat face to wake them up
• Call emergency services ( dependant upon where you live, this number will be 000 or 999)
• Be able to clearly give the issue to the operator – “Daddys fallen down and won’t wake up” their name and full address including the state.
• They must then be able to open the front door and put on the light should it be dark to allow emergency services into the house.
• The eldest then instructed to go to one of the neighbours (who know of the situation) and get help while the younger one sits and continues to talk or rouse him.

This list might seem an insurmountable task for a six and four year old to learn, but within a week, both were able to recite it and demonstrate what they’d do if needed.  Although I think the seriousness of the situation has spurned the need to learn, I also believe that the consistency and impromptu nature of me enforcing the information into them has helped. When compiling your list; you might like to include things like putting the prone person in the safety position ( only possible for an older child if performing on an adult) or medications (anti seizure, heart medication, diabetic syringes  etc as specific to your situation.)

>The best way to look at emergency preparedness is to make it non-threatening and by taking advantage of everyday moments to incorporate it into conversations and observations. We go over our steps on the way to school and at various times during the day. Although it is something that no-one would wish to happen, its important that you look at the possibilities of illnesses or accidents which may occur in your home and how you can begin to teach your children to cope and manage them.

Do you have any other tips or suggestions when preparing your children for an emergency within the home?

Annie is taking every day as it comes and it thankful her hubby seems to be on the mend. Its all a bit scary sometimes.. Catch her growing amount of websites and blogs.

Related posts:

1. Taking Your Child to the Emergency Room
2. Preparing For Emergencies
3. Emergency Room Waiting With a Toddler
4. Safety and Children in the Suburbs
5. My Emergency Home Birth Story