It\’s not surprising that most people do not have a plan in place for an emergency. Nobody thinks disaster will strike them. Chances are, it never will, but having a practiced, well thought out safety plan in place could mean a world of difference in your life. If you have never thought about the need for a safety plan and don\’t know where to begin to formulate one, here are a few tips to help you get started.

Make it a Family Affair

Each family member should be involved in the development of the family safety plan. Hold a family meeting where everyone can participate and provide input. This family brainstorming will provide ideas and everyone will have an understanding of the plan and be more apt to take it seriously. Creating a family safety contract for everyone to sign will ensure your family\’s commitment to safety. Frame the contract in a picture frame and hang it in an easily accessible location in case that emergency every strikes.

Gather Emergency Supplies

Before an emergency strikes determine what supplies you will need to keep you safe. Build an emergency supply kit or several of them and place them at different locations throughout your house so you are prepared no matter where you are. Some examples of what to include in your safety kit are a working flashlight and extra batteries, a first aid kit, non-perishable food, matches, blankets, extra clothing and jugs of water. As a safety precaution keep a flashlight and fresh batteries in a nightstand for a middle of the night emergency. You should also consider having an emergency radio especially if you live in tornado areas so you can get updates on the weather status.

Plan Emergency Escape Routes

If you wait until an emergency hits to figure out an exit route, you won\’t have time to coordinate with other family members. Whether the emergency is a fire, flood or tornado, you need to have a plan that is known to all family members and has been practiced so each person is familiar with it and can successfully escape. Once your escape route is established you may want to create a poster of it to hang on the wall in a simple picture frame where it can be seen and understood even by young children.

Practice, Practice, Practice

No plan is ever fool proof. That is why you need to practice your escape plan so you don\’t have any surprises during a real emergency. Once you have established a plan, hold a few practice sessions so everyone is familiar with the plan and can navigate more confidently when under stress. Whether it is a fire drill, home evacuation drill or tornado drill, practice sessions give everyone a chance to be acquainted with the escape plan and time to work on any problems that you foresee. A fun activity is more memorable, so snap some photos of your family in action and display in picture frames along with your emergency escape route and family safety contract.

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Category: Parenting
Keywords: safety plan,family safety