Emergencies happen. As adults, we try to prepare for them with home fire escape plans, emergency car kits, and some of us also take CPR and first aid courses. We also do our best to keep our families safe by preventing dangerous situations in the home.

But with all of our preparation, sometimes bad things still happen. When your children are old enough to stay at home alone or babysit others, it’s important for them to be and feel prepared by knowing what to do in case of an emergency.

Preparing kids to deal with emergencies is important. Teach your kids not only what to do, but where emergency supplies are kept. Do they know how to clean a cut or scrape? Do they know where you keep the Band-Aids?

Introducing CPR and calling 911

Do your kids know what to do if someone they are babysitting is choking? How about what to do if they are home alone and suddenly start choking? Introducing kids to CPR and first aid courses is a good start. There are many different courses in Halton for kids.

You may also want to talk to your children about situations where it’s best to call a trusted adult, or when it’s better to call 911. Also be sure to tell them what kinds of questions to expect if they do decide to make that call.

I personally like to play the “What if?” game with my kids. It’s an activity that helps us to talk through different common scenarios. I ask questions like what would you do if:

• the electricity goes out?
• the toilet overflows?
• someone is knocking on the door?
• the fire alarm goes off?

Once while facilitating this game, a child answered that they would light all the candles in the house if the electricity went out. His mom was very surprised; she assumed he knew to use a flashlight and not candles. This started a great conversation between mom and tween.

Have you started your conversation yet?

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For parenting information or to speak with a Public Health Nurse (every Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) simply dial 311 or 905-825-6000.