Parents Guide

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Parents Guide
The Beginning Years
Choosing Child Care
Parenting as Your Child Grows
Parenting and Your Family's Well Being

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	Violence and Abuse
	Disasters and Emergencies

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Parents Guide > Your Family's Well Being

For life-threatening emergencies like fire, poisoning, assault or auto accidents, you can get help by calling 9-1-1.
After a disaster, you may not be able to get help for days. Phone lines may not be working. So be prepared to help yourself and those around you.
In difficult times, children will need more reassurance. Give them extra time, attention and affection. Tell them you will do everything you can to keep them safe.

Prepare for Disaster
• Make disaster plans with your family and child care provider. Learn the disaster plans for your child’s school— in some emergencies your child is safest kept at the school.
• Know different ways to get out of your home.
• Be ready to help your neighbors.
• Keep emergency supplies in your house and car. Check them every 6 months. Don’t forget baby food.
• Know how to turn off your gas, water and electricity.
• Set up a place for family members to meet. Choose an out-of-area person everyone can call after a disaster.
• Make sure pets have tags and extra food.
• If you use medical equipment, show a neighbor how to operate it. Ask your utility company and fire department about emergency back-up services.
• For more information, read the First Aid and Survival Guide in the front of your White Pages phone book. Call Disaster Services or visit www.redcross.org.

Learn First Aid and Infant/Child First Aid
Try to take an infant/child first aid class before your baby is born. Look for a class at your hospital or local Red Cross.

In an Emergency, Call 9-1-1
• Call 9-1-1 when a person’s life may be in danger.
• Wait for someone to answer. Don’t hang up.
• If you don’t speak English, ask for someone who speaks your language.
• Say exactly where you are. Give the cross street or floor number.
• Describe the problem and how it happened.
• Don’t hang up until the person has all your information.
• Have someone wait in the street to direct emergency workers.

Helping Your Children in Tense Times
• Reassure your children and hug them often.
• Try to keep regular schedules and routines. Children feel more secure when they know what to expect.
• Ask your children about their feelings. Tell them it is normal to feel scared, angry, anxious or sad.
• Let children ask questions and talk about what happened. Answer questions calmly and simply.
• Give accurate information, but don’t offer more than your child asks for.
• Try to keep young children away from TV news that shows violence.
• Keep children involved. They will feel more secure if they can help. Let them join in simple rituals, such as lighting candles or praying.
• If your child continues to be upset, talk to a counselor.