Educating and preparing your children ahead of time means fewer surprises in the event of an emergency.

Growing Up Prepared: Empowering Youth in Disaster Preparedness

As we observe National Preparedness Month, it’s crucial to remember that disasters can strike at any moment, affecting everyone in a community – including our children. With kids making up nearly a quarter of the U.S. population, involving them in emergency planning isn’t just smart; it’s essential for building resilient communities.

Many parents wonder if they should shield their children from the reality of disasters. Experts agree that open, honest communication is key. Children are observant and can sense when something’s amiss. By discussing potential emergencies, you can address their concerns and dispel irrational fears.

When talking to kids about disasters:

• Take cues from your child and answer their questions directly
• Use age-appropriate language and concepts
• Be honest, even if it means saying “I don’t know”
• Limit exposure to frightening images or repeated news coverage

Resources like the free Help Kids Cope App (iOS, Google Play) can guide you through these conversations, offering scripts tailored to different age groups and disaster types.

Making Preparedness Fun and Engaging

Disaster preparedness doesn’t have to be scary or boring. There are numerous ways to make it an enjoyable family activity:

1. Play preparedness games like FEMA’s Disaster Master
2. Create emergency kits together, letting kids choose some comfort items
3. Hold family drills, turning them into engaging scenarios
4. Use interactive tools from Ready.gov’s kids site: Youth.gov

Age-Appropriate Responsibilities and Education

Involving children in preparedness efforts helps them feel empowered and confident. Tailor tasks to their age and abilities:

• Young children can help pack their own “go-bags” or emergency kits, and learn emergency contact numbers
• Older kids can assist in creating family communication plans
• Teens might take first aid courses or join community preparedness programs

Schools can integrate disaster preparedness into various subjects, making it a part of everyday learning.

• Building Essential Skills

  Focus on practical skills that can make a real difference:

  • Basic first aid appropriate for their age
  • How to use emergency communication devices
  • Understanding and identifying local hazards
  • Memorizing important phone numbers and addresses

   

• Technology and Preparedness

  For older children and teens, technology can play a crucial role in preparedness:

  • Introduce apps that provide real-time emergency information
  • Teach them how to use social media responsibly during crises
  • Consider tools like the Kid Case, a pediatric version of emergency medication kits

   

• Youth Preparedness Programs

  Numerous programs offer structured learning experiences:

  • The Red Cross Pillowcase Project (ages 8-11)
  • Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
  • FEMA Youth Preparedness Council

  Participating in multiple programs can significantly enhance a child’s preparedness knowledge and confidence.

   

• Family Involvement

  Preparedness is a family affair. Work together to:

  • Create and regularly practice your family emergency plan
  • Update school records and emergency contact information
  • Engage in community preparedness efforts as a family unit

Emotional Preparedness and Coping Strategies

Preparing children emotionally is just as important as physical preparedness:

• Discuss potential disasters calmly and realistically
• Build confidence through knowledge and preparation
• Understand that children may react differently to stress (e.g., regression in young children, withdrawal in teens)
• Develop coping strategies for before, during, and after disasters

Remember, children who are prepared often experience less anxiety and feel more confident during actual emergencies.

In summary:

Involving youth in disaster preparedness isn’t just about safety – it’s about empowerment. By educating and involving our children, we’re not only preparing them for potential emergencies but also raising a generation of resilient, community-minded individuals.

Start your family’s preparedness journey today. Utilize the wealth of resources available, from government websites to local community programs. Every small step towards preparedness can make a big difference when disaster strikes.

And remember, Jase makes emergency medication kits for the whole family:

• Jase Case (adults)
• Teen Case (ages 12-17)
• KidCase (ages 2-11)

As always, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay prepared. 

– Your partners in preparedness: Jase.com

Small steps today, mean a safer tomorrow for you and your loved ones.

Low-Cost and No-Cost Emergency Preparedness

So far in our series for National Preparedness Month this September, we’ve already covered How to Make an Emergency Plan for Your Household and How to Build a Home Emergency Kit. This week, we’re focusing on low-cost and no-cost measures you can take to enhance your emergency preparedness. Being prepared doesn’t always require a significant financial investment – there are many things you can do that cost little to nothing but can make a big difference in an emergency.

Understanding the Importance of Preparedness

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 61 percent of Americans have not created or practiced an emergency plan, while 80 percent live in counties that have experienced natural disasters. With unpredictable weather patterns affecting most of the world, there’s no excuse for not being prepared. Remember, preparation is far less about expensive gear and much more about planning, practice, and controlling panic.

1. Know Your Risks

• Understand what disasters and hazards could affect your area. Visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center or check Floodsmart.gov to know your neighborhood’s level of flood risk.
• Plan for the types of disasters that can happen where you live. You may need to prepare for a snowstorm instead of a hurricane.

2. Create Your Emergency Plan (No-Cost)

• Develop a family emergency communication plan. See our recent article on How to Make an Emergency Plan For Your Household.
• Practice emergency drills with your family annually.
• Plan evacuation routes away from flood sources such as rivers, lakes, and ocean fronts.
• If you live in an evacuation zone and would need help evacuating, contact your local emergency manager to see what resources and assistance are available.

3. Stay Informed (No-Cost)

• Sign up for your community’s warning system and emergency alerts.
• Download the FEMA App for local alerts, preparedness tips, and emergency planning information.
• Learn about different emergency alerts, like Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), NOAA Weather Radio alerts, and the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

4. Learn Life-Saving Skills (Low to No-Cost)

Master the 5 Steps to Save a Life

1. Call 9-1-1

• • Don’t assume someone else has already called
  • Let 911 operators coach you through the situation

2. Stay Safe

1. • Assess the situation using all available senses
   • Decide whether to stay and help or get to safety

3. Stop the Bleeding

1. • Apply steady, firm pressure on the source of bleeding
   • Consider a tourniquet if manual pressure isn’t enough

4. Position the Injured

1. • Lay the injured on their side, legs slightly bent
   • Raise the chin forward with mouth pointed downward

5. Provide Comfort

1. • Share names and ask basic questions
   • Keep them warm and offer a hand to hold

Additional Skills

• Take an in-person or online CPR course. Check online for free or discounted courses.
• Learn how to purify water:
  • Boiling is best
  • Use water purification tablets
  • In emergencies: Use 6 drops of 8.25% bleach or 8 drops of 6% bleach per gallon of water
• Practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” techniques for earthquakes

5. Prepare Your Home (Low-Cost)

• Install and/or check the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Contact your local fire department for possible free smoke detector programs.
• Learn the location of the main electric, water, and gas connections to your home, and how to shut them off.
• Clear loose vegetation and debris from around your house to minimize flying objects during high winds.
• Secure or remove hanging items and loose items on bookshelves, especially in bedrooms, kitchens, and living rooms where you may find yourself during a natural disaster.
• Reinforce the underside of overhanging eaves.
• Make sure rain spouts and gutters are clear of debris.
• Create a 30 to 100-foot safety zone around your home in wildfire-prone areas.

6. Build Your Emergency Kit Gradually (Low-Cost)

• Start with items you already have at home, like flashlights, batteries, bandages, and non-perishable food.
• Add to your kit gradually. Buy an extra item each time you go grocery shopping, especially if it’s on sale.
• Use coupons and shop sales for emergency supplies.
• Buy in bulk and split costs with neighbors or friends.
• Store water in clean, reused containers like 2-liter soda bottles.
• Choose non-perishable foods that you normally eat and enjoy.

7. Protect Important Documents (No-Cost)

• Store important documents (passports, birth certificates, insurance policies) in resealable, waterproof plastic bags on a high shelf or upper floor.
• Digitize important documents for easy access.
• Document or video household items for potential insurance claims.

8. Review Your Insurance (No-Cost, Potential Future Savings)

• Review your home insurance or renter’s policy annually.
• Check what disaster-related expenses are covered.
• Consider adding flood insurance if you’re in a flood-prone area.

9. Community Involvement (No-Cost)

• Join local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT).
• Participate in neighborhood watch programs.
• Volunteer with local disaster relief organizations.

10. Budget-Friendly Tips

• Make emergency preparedness a regular budget item, even if it’s just $20 a month.
• Request preparedness items as gifts for birthdays or holidays.
• Trade one night out to fund your 72-hour kit. The cost of a family movie night could cover essential supplies.

Remember, any level of preparation is better than none. Start with what you can afford now, because whatever you can do will make you more ready for an emergency. 

Being prepared brings a peace of mind and can make a significant difference in how you and your family weather an emergency. Take the time to prepare now (no matter how small the steps), and you’ll be thankful for you did if an emergency does occur.

Tune in next week for the next part in our National Preparedness Month series, where we will go over teaching youth about preparedness.

As always, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay prepared. 

– Your partners in preparedness: Jase.com