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Home
Preparedness
By
Michelle
Donaghey
Could your
child could
dial 9-1-1
and talk the
emergency
services to
your door if
you were
unconscious
or there was
a fire? What
exactly
would you do
if your
daughter
accidentally
ingested
some of your
“pretty
tasty
looking”
hand gel?
Emergencies,
major and
minor, are
something
most parents
put out of
their minds
until the
reality is
thrust upon
them when
they are
happening.
While it may
be easier to
just think
we will
never be
affected by
catastrophe,
learning how
to cope by
preparing
ahead and
learning how
to work
together as
a family is
the best
protection
for a good
outcome from
any
emergency,
whether it
be a minor
disaster or
a major one.
“While we
most people
think of
emergencies
as something
which happen
to other
people, the
fact is at
some time a
great
percentage
of us will
experience
one. All
emergencies
require
immediate
action. The
most
important
thing you
can do is to
make sure
every member
of the
family
understands
the
importance
of following
the correct
emergency
procedures.
Everyone
should be
told: when
in doubt,
leave the
house. Then
go to a
neighbor’s
house for
help or call
911 for
emergency
assistance,”
noted Dean
Comancho,
School
Resource
officer for
the Rockton
Village
Police
Department,
Rockton,
Illinois
concerning
household
emergencies.
Talk it
through and
practice
If your
children are
old enough,
talk about
what types
of accidents
and or
emergencies
could happen
around the
house.
Decide which
emergencies
you can
address
individually
and then,
simulate
them if at
all
possible.
Children
understand
and learn
more through
play than
they do
talking or
looking at a
book.
First aid
emergencies
Cuts and
falls that
cause
scrapes,
cuts and
large gashes
happen
without
warning.
Children
should be
told what
they should
and what
should not
do. Help
them to
understand
that just
because they
see a lot of
blood it
does not
mean they
are going to
die or have
to go to a
hospital.
Tell your
children
that they
should make
sure the
wound is
clean and to
rinse it
with water-
not rubbing
alcohol or
other
liquids. If
your child
is old
enough,
teach him or
her how to
stop the
flow of
blood with a
towel. Show
them where
the supplies
are located
in the
medicine
cabinet in
case they
are home
alone. Be
sure all of
the
emergency
supplies are
stocked and
easily
accessible
especially
bandages and
gauze and
the like-
after all,
it could be
you they are
trying to
help. (See
sidebar list
of basic
first aid
kit
necessities
suggestions
from the US
Department
of Homeland
Security.)
Check to see
if the Red
Cross offers
classes in
first aid.
If they do,
find out if
children can
come. Even
children in
junior high
can learn
CPR. If you
can obtain a
poster size
diagram for
CPR and the
Heimlich
maneuver for
choking
emergencies,
post it
where
everyone can
find it
easily such
as on the
side of your
refrigerator
with a
magnet.
Fire
emergencies
“Teach each
family
member how
to use the
fire
extinguisher
(ABC type)
and show
them where
it’s kept,”
says the
American Red
Cross which
also
suggests
everyone
conduct a
“home hazard
hunt”
looking for
hazards such
as frayed
cords, loose
throw rugs,
long mini
blind cords
and
electrical
appliances
near water.
Make sure
that all of
your smoke
detectors
are tested
monthly and
change the
batteries at
least once a
year.
Have an
evacuation
plan in case
of fire. Set
off your
smoke
detectors
(hold
button) so
they can
hear the
sound of the
detector and
explain what
it is.
(During this
time, be
sure you
have smoke
detectors
installed
near the
bedrooms and
on each
level of
your home
with fresh
batteries
every six
months.)
Practice
randomly
with no
notice to
make it
real.
Remember to
teach your
child how to
feel a door
to see if it
is hot.
Teach them
how to low
crawl in
smoke. Make
sure they
know where
they should
exit their
room. If it
is the
window,
teach them
how to raise
it and how
to push the
screen out.
Tell them if
there is a
fire you
will have no
problem if
they tear it
or break
anything
else- all
you care
about is
their
safety!
Decide where
you will
meet in case
of an
emergency!
Storms,
tornadoes
and power
outtages
Make sure
your
children
understand
that if
there is a
storm that
sets off
your local
alarm system
to get to
the basement
if there is
one or in
the middle
of the house
in an
interior
closet. Be
sure to let
them know
that they
should NOT
stay outside
or stay
under trees
if they are
out of
doors. If
your city or
town has an
all clear
signal,
explain that
it will be
set off when
the storm
has passed.
If the power
is out,
explain that
if you are
not home,
the phone
will not
work. If you
have a cell
phone at
home, teach
them how to
call family
members in
case they
need
assurance.
Calling
9-1-1
In many
emergencies,
dialing
9-1-1 is the
only way you
can get the
help you
need. Let
your
children
know there
are MANY
reasons,
however,
they SHOULD
NOT dial
9-1-1
including:
Calling
about school
closings or
weather
Asking if
there is a
power
outages.
How and when
should a
child call?
Remind
children to
dial 9-1-1
when they
need to help
save a life,
stop a crime
or report a
fire, says
the Fort
Thomas
Police
Department,
Fort Thomas,
Kentucky.
They should
also be told
they can
call 9-1-1-
when they do
not feel
safe.
Children
should be
told that
the person
who answers
is there to
help them!
Tell them
they should
NEVER call
9-1-1 for
fun as a
game or
prank.
Explain that
they should
use the
number in
emergencies
such as
someone
having a
heart attack
or falling
down and not
talking.
When a child
calls 9-1-1
they should
be told to
give them
the
following
information:
*His or her
full name,
first and
last
* His or her
full address
* A short
description
of the
emergency.
When you
practice
with your
child, use
an unplugged
telephone.
Tell them
you will
pretend you
are the
person
answering.
You can then
ask them for
their name
and what is
the
emergency.
Be sure to
tell them
that the
answers
should not
be long and
they should
try to stay
calm and not
be upset.
Tell them if
the
emergency is
a house
fire, they
should leave
the house so
help can
come and
they will be
safe.
Posting
emergency
numbers
Many parents
talk about
posting
numbers
throughout
the house,
but don’t
take time to
do it. It
only takes a
moment and
it could
save you or
your child’s
life.
Every home
with a child
(or adults
for that
matter)
should have
numbers
posted in
large
letters and
numbers by
EACH phone.
9-1-1 should
be listed
first along
with the
Poison
Control
number
1-800-222-1222
along with
your home
address and
phone
number- it
is very hard
to remember
simple
information
during and
emergency
especially
for a child!
The list
should also
include
numbers for
your local
police, fire
and doctors
and
dentists. If
your child
are left
alone as
latch key
kids or they
are
sometimes
trusted
while you
run errands,
also post
your cell
numbers and
the numbers
of the
neighbors.
In case of
an emergency
at school,
it is also
wise to
place your
work
numbers,
cell numbers
and family
member
numbers in
your child’s
backpack in
a hidden
pocket in
case they
are in need
of calling
you.
Poisons,
poisoning
and using
ICEPAC
Do you know
that some of
the worst
poisons are
commonly
used items
in your
home? Do you
take diet
pills or
decongestants?
Medicine
such as high
blood
pressure
medicine can
also kill in
small doses.
According to
the U.S.
Food and
Drug
Administration
Department
of Health
and Human
Services,
some
dangerous
household
products
are: *
*art
supplies,
*dishwasher
detergent,
bleach and
ammonia,
*gasoline,
kerosene,
paint
thinners,
antifreeze
and
windshield
washing
fluid;
*beer, wine
and liquor
and other
products
with alcohol
like
mouthwash,
aftershave
and
colognes.
All of these
products
should be
stored
safely,
locked or
closed in
their
containers
and out of
sight. In
the case of
art
supplies,
make sure
that they
are labeled
as safe,
that is
non-toxic.
If you think
that your
child has
been
poisoned,
look for
signs from
the FDA
including:
Sleepiness
even though
it is not
nap time.
They can’t
follow you
with their
eyes.
Their eyes
go around in
circles.
They have
burns or
stains
around the
mouth.
Their breath
smells
strange.
If you
believe that
your child
has been
poisoned by
ingesting
something,
breathing in
something or
touching
something,
call the
poison
control
center or
your doctor.
Tell them
the name of
the poison,
the way the
child took
it, if your
child has
vomited,
your child’s
height and
weight and
any
medications
or health
problems
your child
might have.
If you are
told to go
to the
hospital
emergency,
TAKE THE
POISONOUS
SUBSTANCE
WITH YOU
whenever
possible.
IPECAC-
For many
years,
adults
learned that
the rule was
to give a
child ipecac
in case of
poison
ingestion.
The rules
have
changed! DO
NOT USE
IPECAC UNTIL
YOU CALL THE
DOCTOR OR
POISON
CENTER!!
With some
poisons it
can actually
do more harm
than good.
The American
Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP)
does not
recommend
use of
ipecac
whatsoever.
In 2003 the
AAP noted in
a press
release that
syrup of
ipecac no
longer be
used
routinely as
a home
treatment
strategy. In
the past the
AAP advised
that parents
keep a
1-ounce
bottle of
syrup of
ipecac in
the home to
induce
vomiting if
it was
feared a
child had
swallowed a
poisonous
substance.
Although it
seems to
make sense
to induce
vomiting
after the
ingestion of
a
potentially
poisonous
substance,
it was never
proven to be
effective in
preventing
poisoning.
Recent
research has
failed to
show benefit
for children
who were
treated with
ipecac which
was the key
reason for
this policy
change.
In fact,
most
emergency
rooms have
stopped
using the
drug in
favor of the
more
effective
activated
charcoal.
The AAP
stressed
that
prevention
is the best
defense
against
unintentional
poisoning,
and that
parents
should keep
potential
poisons
locked out
of sight and
out of
reach. The
statement
also
recommends
never
transferring
a substance
from its
original to
an alternate
container,
and to
safely
dispose of
all unused
and no
longer
needed
medications.
Instead of
having
ipecac on
hand the AAP
policy
recommended
that
pediatricians
should tell
parents to
post the
universal
phone number
for poison
control near
the phone:
(800)
222-1222.
Parents
should call
9-1-1 in the
case of
convulsions,
cessation of
breathing or
unconsciousness.
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Michelle
Donaghey
is a
freelance
writer
and
mother
of
two
boys,
Chris
and
Patrick,
who
are
her
inspiration.
She
lives
in
Bremen,
Indiana
just
south
of
South
Bend,
home
of
Notre
Dame.
When
she
isn't
writing,
Michelle
can be
found
in
her
perennial
flower
garden
or
working
on
small
home
improvement
projects.
Michelle
has
written
for
parenting
publications
including
Metro
Kids,
Atlanta
Parent,
Dallas
Child,
Great
Lakes
Family,
Family
Times
and
Space
Coast
Parent
and
websites
including
iparenting.com.
No
part
of
this
article
may be
copied
or
reproduced
in any
form
without
the
express
permission
of
More4Kids
Inc
©
2005 |
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