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Website by: Jared Warner |
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SOUTHWEST OHIO PUBLIC HEALTH REGION |
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Public Health Region
News
Emergency Preparedness Info - Tristate Medical Reserve Corps
Regional Planning Groups - Executive Steering Committee Coordinators Disease Investigators
Local Health Departments
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Below are some helpful tips when talking to your kids about emergencies. It is important that you communicate these often difficult ideas with your children and prepare them to respond according to your family’s plans.
1. Talk with your child’s school teachers to determine what topics might have been covered in class recently. Often, this information can be useful in determining the amount and level of information to present to your child. 2. Give older children an active role in planning by assigning tasks and activities to them during planning. 3. Remain calm when talking to your children about emergencies. Kids are very good at picking up on the moods of adults. Don’t panic, and they are less likely to do so. 4. Be open to questions and be as honest as possible when answering them. 5. Tailor your message appropriately for your child’s age and level of development. 6. Take your children to appropriate emergency preparedness displays. Fair booths, libraries, schools, and other agencies often provide public safety days for children to attend and learn about law enforcement, fire departments, hospitals, and emergency medical services.
For more information, visit:
American Academy of Pediatrics: Four Steps to Prepare Your Family for Disaster
Federal Emergency Management Agency: Helping Children Cope With Disaster
American Red Cross: Helping Young People Deal with Terrorism and Other Tragic Events
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Talking To Kids |
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In an emergency, it is important that your family has decided ahead of time how to contact one another if phones are unavailable. Designate a friend or family member who lives a good distance away, and instruct your family to contact that person if separated in an emergency. The designated contact person can keep track of who has and has not called. During an emergency, it is also important to have a designated meeting area. If communications are inoperable, instruct your family to meet at this location. For example, you may decide that your family will meet at the local church if the emergency is minor and localized, such as a chemical leak. For larger emergencies, a relative’s house outside of the effected area may be appropriate. Take some time to discuss with your family what could happen in an emergency, and make some plans together. There are several resources and links provided by this website to help you prepare. By knowing how to care for yourself and your family, you are letting emergency workers focus on helping others in need. For more information, visit the following links:
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Family Crisis Communication |