When my kids were in elementary school, I do remember a couple years where they had to go over a fire escape plan with the household and we had to chat about it and develop a plan for what to do in case of a fire emergency. And, I know they’ve been through earthquake drills–since earthquakes are our most likely natural disaster here on the West coast. When we lived in the Midwest, they participated in “tornado drills” at school. But, it’s been a while since we’ve had a chat about what our “emergency plan” is and what we would all do in case of a fire, earthquake, flood, or any other emergency situation. I’m not even sure if my kids know where the fire extinguishers are!
Other than teaching our kids to dial 9-1-1–which is incredibly important, of course, it’s also recommended that a family or household have a well-established plan for what to do in various emergency situations and have period chats and practice drills to make sure everyone stays clear and aware. A little “What would we do if” conversation every few months is a good way to keep the focus on safety and stay prepared. Some families go so far as to have written maps and escape plans available for visual aids (and in case thinking and remembering isn’t too clear in an actual emergency) so kids can see how and where they need to go to get out of the home in case of an emergency.
Certainly, we should all have our emergency numbers posted–a trusted neighbor, the police, 9-1-1, a grandparent or other person who could help out in case something went wrong. I used to be very organized and clear about these things when my kids were younger, but have slacked off a bit since they’ve become teenagers. In reviewing our household “emergency plan,” I’m thinking it’s time for a refresher course!