Marines


Preparing Your Children

 

 

As you plan ahead for an emergency, it is important that you discuss potential hazards with your children. Make sure they understand what might happen and what their job is during an emergency. Disasters can frighten children; including them in the planning process helps to ease their fears. By talking about emergencies with your children beforehand, they may better understand what to do if there is an emergency, be better equipped to react, and stay much calmer throughout the emergency.

 

 

 

Help kids stay informed

  • Talk to your kids about what types of emergencies might happen in your area.

  • Make sure your kids know exactly where your family meeting place is.

  • Talk about what might happen if they are in school.

  • Discuss the differences in what they need to do depending on the differ­ent emergencies.

  • Explore the Ready Marine Corps Kids pages with your children for information, additional resources, and fun activities geared for them.


 

make a plan as a family

  • Make your evacuation plan as a family, so your children understand where you are going and why. 

  • Make a communications plan as a family by writing down all the phone numbers you and your kids would need, as well as how to get in touch with each other if you are separated.

  • Let your kids be involved in every process of planning.


 

Build a kit as a family

  • Build your emergency kits together as a family, so your kids understand what is in the kit.

  • Give the kids a list so they can help gather supplies for the kit. Make it a treasure hunt.

  • Discuss why it is important to have each item in the kit.


 

Practice you plan as a family

  • Practice what you might do as a family in different emergency situ­ations.

  • Let your kids ask questions and give their opinions regarding your plan’s effectiveness.

  • The more they talk about it, the more likely they will be ready when something happens.

 


Set your own course through any hazard: stay informed, make a plan, build a kit. Live Ready Marine Corps.