Emergency Kits For Schools: What Parents Should Know

It’s Worth It To Maximize Your Kids’ Emergency Preparedness At School

Emergencies happen, and when they do, protecting those you love is of infinite importance. If you are a parent, your kids mean the world to you, and keeping them safe is something you would stop at nothing to accomplish. 

When you are looking for ways to be as prepared as possible to protect your kids from emergencies, one of the most important considerations to make is your level of preparedness for a crisis at school. Your kids spend a considerable amount of time at school each week, and knowing how to keep them safe when they leave home to learn is always crucial.

This post walks you through some of the most important aspects of emergency preparedness for schools so that you can confidently drop your kids off to learn each day with peace of mind. In these challenging times, it is easy to feel anxiety each time you leave your kids to go to school. 

However, by staying informed and being prepared, you can make sure that you are doing everything you can to keep your kids safe in any situation, whether at home, in the classroom, or elsewhere. 

For Classroom Emergencies, First Aid Supplies Are A Must.

When an accident happens and someone gets injured, it’s important not to panic. Keeping a clear head and responding to an injury well means having the supplies you need to address the accident and knowing how to use them. Every classroom should be equipped with a well-stocked first aid kit to adequately respond when someone gets a minor injury like a scrape, cut, burn, or bruise.

Every teacher should have comprehensive training in first aid so that they can address any injuries that happen in the classroom. Knowing how to address minor injuries when they happen is one of the most important skills a teacher can have. You should be able to rest easy each time you drop your kids off at school, knowing that they are in good hands learning from a teacher who can step in and act if anyone gets injured.

In some situations, it is wise to send your child to school with medical supplies that are specific to their medical needs. For example, if your child has asthma, food allergies, or another serious health condition, it is always a must to send them to school each day with the supplies that would be needed in a crisis. 

Teachers and other school staff should be informed about any health conditions that your child has that may need special attention during a school day. Epi-Pens, inhalers, and other condition-specific medical supplies are not present in standard first aid kits, so you will need to equip your child with them in case of an emergency.

In addition, if you homeschool your kids, it is always a must to keep a first aid kit on standby for dealing with minor injuries. Each of JUDY’s emergency preparedness kits comes with a well-stocked container full of first aid supplies, giving you everything you need to deal with scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other minor injuries that may occur throughout the day. An at-home first aid kit can come in handy whether you homeschool your kids or not, and it is always a good idea to keep one at the ready.

One of the best steps you can take to educate your kids and keep them safe at school and at home is to walk them through how to use each of the items in your first aid kit. Once your kids reach third or fourth grade, they should know how to dress a wound using gauze, and long before that, they should be familiar with 911 and the steps to take to get emergency medical help.

Disaster Preparedness At School

If you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, your kids are likely being walked through protective measures at school. Whether you are located somewhere with frequent earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, or other natural disasters, you can count on your local school system to prepare your kids to respond to a crisis.

Depending on the types of natural disasters that occur where you live, the school that your kids attend will routinely perform drills to make sure students are ready to respond with the proper safety measures. If you are homeschooling your kids, making emergency planning a part of your curriculum is a great way to keep your kids informed and prepared in case the worst happens. 

If you need resources to educate your kids and get them prepared for emergencies, check out JUDY.co’s online plans for responding to various types of natural disasters. These plans can make a huge difference when it counts the most, and each of them is available in downloadable form for easy access.

Before you send your kids to school... 

To make sure you have done everything possible to prepare your kids for anything that might happen at school, go through this checklist to make sure they have the supplies they need and any necessary information. The right gear and knowledge can save your kids’ lives in a crisis, so it is well worth it to be prepared.

• If your kids have specific health conditions that require special supplies (i.e., asthma, diabetes, severe food allergies, etc.), have you packed these in their school gear and informed teachers regarding how to use them?
• Are your kids familiar with the various types of natural disasters that can occur where you live? If so, have they practiced the necessary drills so that they know what to do if a natural disaster occurs while they are at school?
• Have you taught your kids how to use the various items in your home’s first aid kit? 
• Do your kids know how to call 911 if an emergency happens when you are not present?
• Have your kids confirmed to you that they feel confident in their own emergency preparedness and that they know what to do in a crisis at home or in school?

If you can answer yes to the questions on this checklist, you can rest assured that your kids are ready to handle emergencies that might arise at home or at school. To further ensure your kids’ safety, partner with teachers and school faculty by providing them with any special information that they might need to keep your kids safe while they are in their care. 

Ultimately, it is always worth it to go the extra mile to make sure that the school your kids attend is thoroughly equipped to handle emergencies and that you can do the same at home.

Sources:

https://time.com/tag/natural-disasters/

https://www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid/first-aid-true-stories

https://www.schoolsafety.gov/respond-and-recover/training-exercises-and-drills