Prepare children for emergencies: Tips for parents and caregivers
Preparing children for emergencies helps them feel safe, reduces their fears, and builds their resilience. Follow these steps to help your child feel prepared and confident in case of an emergency.
Hazards and emergencies
Teach children about hazards and emergencies that can happen in your area, such as power outages and floods. Learn what to do before, during, and after an emergency.
Hazards and emergencies in Canada
Emergency plan
Involve children while you’re making your household emergency plan.
- Ensure they understand meeting spots, emergency contacts, and evacuation routes
- Practise the emergency plan with them regularly
- Teach children:
- how to call emergency services
- age appropriate skills for using safety equipment like fire extinguishers, and performing basic first aid
- Make sure your children know what to do at school if an emergency happens
- Use simple words and tools like books or videos that children can understand
Emergency kits
- Prepare an emergency kit together
- Involve children so they understand what’s in it and where it’s kept
- Include comforting items such as a favourite toy or book
Teach children how to use 9-1-1
Teaching children how to use 9-1-1 could save their lives and yours. Here are simple steps to teach children at any age group.
- Explain that 9-1-1 is the number to call for help from police, fire departments, and ambulances
- Make it clear to call 9-1-1 if someone is in immediate danger or in need of urgent medical support
- Help them understand what an emergency is, like someone not breathing, a fire, or someone getting hurt
- Practise the following steps with them so they know what to do when they call 9-1-1:
- give their location
- explain the emergency
- stay on the line until told otherwise
- Use pretend scenarios to practise what to say when calling 9-1-1
- Explain that it is illegal to prank call 9-1-1
- Make sure they have memorized their home address and important phone numbers
- Use videos, colouring pages, and interactive tools to make learning about 9-1-1 more memorable
Find more tips for parents and caregivers to help children cope before, during, and after an emergency: