Be a Home Hero: Crafting Your Family's Emergency Action Plan!
Today, you're going to become a Home Hero! Our mission is to create a super important plan called an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to keep our family safe if something unexpected happens, like a big storm or the power going out. It's like having a superhero plan for our home!
What is an Emergency Action Plan (EAP)? (10 minutes)
An EAP is a plan that tells everyone in the family what to do in an emergency. It helps us stay calm, know how to get to safety, and how to get help. Think of it as a map and a rulebook all in one for emergencies!
- Why is it important? Discuss: What could happen if we don't have a plan? (e.g., confusion, people might not know where to go, it might take longer to get help).
Activity 1: What's the Emergency? Brainstorm! (10 minutes)
Let's think like detectives! What are some emergencies that could happen where we live? (e.g., fire, power outage, severe weather like a hurricane or tornado, earthquake if applicable, a family member getting hurt).
- Write these down on our large paper/whiteboard.
Activity 2: Mission: Map It Out! Create Escape Routes (20 minutes)
Every hero needs an escape route! We're going to draw a map of our home. For each room, we need to find TWO ways out (like a door and a window). Mark these on your map.
- Think about: What if one way is blocked? That's why two ways are important!
- Draw arrows showing the way to get outside from each room.
Activity 3: The Contact Crew! Important Phone Numbers (15 minutes)
If there's an emergency, we might need to call for help, or call family members. Let's make a list of important phone numbers:
- Emergency Services (e.g., 911 or local equivalent)
- Family members' phone numbers (mom, dad, grandparents)
- A trusted out-of-state contact (someone far away who can help coordinate if local lines are busy)
- Doctor's office, poison control (optional, good to have)
We can write these on a special card to keep with our plan or near the phone.
Activity 4: Meet-Up Masters! Safe Meeting Places (10 minutes)
If we have to leave the house quickly and get separated, we need safe places to meet up.
- Indoor Meeting Spot (if we can't go outside): Pick a safe room inside, away from windows if it's a storm (e.g., a basement, an interior hallway).
- Outdoor Meeting Spot (close to home): Pick a spot a safe distance from the house, like a specific tree, a neighbor's mailbox, or the end of the driveway. This is where everyone goes after escaping a fire.
- Neighborhood Meeting Spot (if we can't get home): Pick a place like a trusted neighbor's house, a local library, or a community center.
Mark these on or near your home map!
Activity 5: Super Kit Scramble! What's in an Emergency Kit? (15 minutes)
An emergency kit has things we might need if we have to leave home quickly or if the power is out. Let's go on a scavenger hunt (or just list them) for items for a mini-kit:
- Flashlight (with extra batteries)
- Bottled water
- Non-perishable snacks (like granola bars)
- Small first-aid kit
- Whistle (to call for help)
- Warm blanket (small)
- Copy of our Emergency Contact List
- Any special medications needed
Discuss where you would keep your family's main emergency kit.
Activity 6: Practice Makes Prepared! (15 minutes)
Now let's practice! Let's pretend there's a (choose one: smoke alarm going off, or a tornado warning).
- What do we do first? (Refer to the EAP!)
- Where do we go? (Practice walking the escape route to the outdoor meeting spot, or going to the indoor safe spot).
- Who do we call (pretend call)?
Talk about how to stay calm: take deep breaths, follow the plan.
Conclusion: Home Hero Certified! (5 minutes)
Amazing work, Home Hero! We now have the start of our family's Emergency Action Plan. This plan will help keep us all safe. We should review it together as a family sometimes and practice, just like fire drills at school.
- Discussion: What was the most important thing you learned today? How does having this plan make you feel?
- Place the EAP (map, contact list) in a visible and accessible location.