Parents need to get over their apprehensions if they want to ensure their children’s safety in the event of an emergency, says safety expert Mary Lynn Fernau.
“You just never want to think your children are going to be in a bad situation,” Fernau said.
But think of what might happen if you don’t prepare your kids for every possibility.
Fernau offers these tips to keep kids safe:
All children (infants to 12) should wear up-to-date, discreet personal ID at all times. “You never know when an emergency may strike,” Fernau advised.
Provide complete information on the IDs, including parent-contact info, in-town alternate contact info and out-of-town alternate contact info, medical conditions/allergies and date of birth.
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“Parents should always carry current photos of their child in their wallet,” Fernau said. “Parents should also carry a current ID card . . . with all the child’s vital statistics. The information should be updated every six months. Keep children’s fingerprints and DNA samples in a safe, dry place in your home.”
In an emergency, take a picture of your child with your cell phone camera. It will be current and easily available.
Play “What Do I Look Like?” Have your children recite their parents’ names, describe what they look like, and what they are wearing, Fernau said. “Parents,” she added, “should take a careful look at what their child is wearing that day too.”
Instruct children to identify “helpful strangers” such as uniformed police, the best helpful strangers and easiest for a small child to identify, Fernau said.
Prepare your child for emergencies and explain what is happening if they occur. “Explain that the child and their safety are the most important thing, and that you, the parent, will do all you can to protect them,” Fernau said, “but that it is a serious situation and you all need to be prepared.”
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