Family Safety Plan
Here's What To Do
1
Discuss potential emergency situations that are specific to your regional location, like fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes.
2
Walk around your home and talk about all safe paths, exits, and places for cover during emergencies. Consider including a "meeting spot" in case you have to evacuate your home.
3
Perform practice drills so your children know what to do and where to go during an emergency.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Be calm, rested, and relaxed for this conversation and activity.
E
Engage:
- "Where we live, we have tornadoes sometimes, but not very often. Let's practice what to do if there's a tornado."
- "It's very unlikely that it will happen, but let's practice what to do if there's a fire. If there's no fire in the way, we'll come down this hallway and go down these stairs. In case we get separated, we'll meet at this tree. The most important thing to remember is to leave the building if the path is safe."
E
Encourage:
- Avoid scaring or creating additional fear by explaining to your children that plans keep families safe. Reinforce that there’s no need to worry because the likelihood of an emergency is very low.
- Praise your children for being super prepared for an emergency.
R
Reflect:
- Was your child interested in making new safety plans?
Not quite ready?
With your child, come up with a list of safety rules for playing in your house (or on the playground, etc.).
Ready for more?
Ask your child to explain what they'd do in different emergency situations.
As your child masters this skill...
They can participate in making safety rules for emergencies.