Emergency Prep with Kids Can Be Fun!

As National Preparedness Month comes to an end, hopefully you have taken a step or two towards making your household a little more ready for the unexpected. The focus for the final week is on teaching kids what they themselves can do to be prepared.

First, make sure that the young people in your household know your plans and what roles they have in them. Have fun playing “what would you take if you could only take five things,” preparing them to make choices in case they need to evacuate. It is much easier to talk about leaving or taking certain stuffed animals, books, toys, or comfort items when things are calm than trying to negotiate on the fly. Consider having a little suitcase or backpack “go bag” in a specific place for each child that they can practice packing and carrying themselves. In addition, FEMA’s Ready Kids website has fun games to play together and age-appropriate safety tips.

For teenagers, there are many opportunities to get involved in preparedness outside of just their own home. Along with scouting and school-based programs, the Weston Emergency Reserve Corps (WERC) is always looking for young leaders. Just contact the Weston Board of Health for more information. Those with a particular passion for community service and disaster preparedness can even apply for FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council. There is more information about that and other resources for teens online at https://www.ready.gov/kids/teens.

Nobody is too young to be ready and it’s better when everyone’s involved. The way the WERC sees it, if you are old enough to be impacted by an emergency, you are old enough to prepare for one.