Back to School Emergency Planning

I cannot believe that I am already thinking and sharing information on back to school topics.  Seems like only yesterday we were sharing information on how to "survive" this unusually warm summer. As your prepare the little ones in your life for the either dreaded or celebrated return to school take a moment to review what would happen if an emergency occurred while your child was at school or daycare.

For many parents back to school preparedness means picking up notebooks, pencils, clothes, backpacks, and other supplies needed to start the year off right.  The beginning of the new school year is also a good time to know your school's emergency plans and how the school will communicate with parents in emergencies.  Emergency plans vary greatly from location to location, but every education or care facility should have some sort of emergency and notification plan.

Back to school planning tips include:

• Know the school's emergency plan
• Know where the children will be taken in the event of an evacuation, is there a predesignated parent/child reunification spot?
• Ensure parent emergency contact information is up to date
• Pre-authorize a friend or relative to pick up your child, ensure your child and the school are aware of who these people are
• Have a family communications plan, plan which includes contact information for an out-of-area family member or friend
• Make a small school emergency kit

Taking a few minutes before school starts to become familiar with these emergency related items could reduce the level of stress during an actual event.  It is an understatement to say a parent's worst nightmare is something happening to your child when you are not there to protect them.  Knowing a few details in advance will help you make smart decisions while responding to emergencies.

Visit some of the following helpful family emergency preparedness links:

http://www.ready.gov/

Vancouver Public Schools

Evergreen Public Schools

http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/children

What's On Your List Today?

As September quickly approaches it is time to start thinking about getting those kids back to school.  I know, I know it's still August and it feels like Summer has just began, but before we know it we will trade these 90 degree days for leaf clogged street drains.

As I prepare my daughter for first grade I quickly become overwhelmed with the assortment of supplies kids need for school these days.  I remember walking to school with a Dixon Ticonderoga # 2 pencil above my ear and a copy of The Mouse and the Motorcycle in my back pocket.  Clearly times have changed and it is important to ensure our kids are setup to succeed in school.

As I was making my list I started to get separation anxiety and worry about my daughter's ability to cope with unpredictable circumstances.  Did I teach her about stranger danger?  Does she know what to do if she starts choking?  Does she know my phone number?  I wouldn't say I freaked out, but I began to question my efforts in preparing her for increased independence in this world.  I do this for a living, why hadn't I thought about her individual preparedness?  We have a fantastic family plan and kit, my car is a preppers paradise, and I generally feel I "walk the walk".  But for some reason I never thought about my daughter's level of preparedness when she was not with her Mother or myself.

With a little "Google Therapy" my anxiety quickly eased.  Even though the idea of "kids kits" hadn't hit me before, it was clear that a lot of people had put great thought into the topic.  I found numerous lists of recommended items to include in your child's school bag.  Do a quick Google of "kids preparedness kits" and you'll see what I'm talking about.

After reviewing a few lists I narrowed down what I thought was most necessary and reasonable for a 7 year old to carry with them.  Obviously a 7 year old's kit is going to look quite different then a 14 year old's.  Use your best judgement and really think about what your child may need if there were no adults around to guide them in an emergency situation.

Here's the list I came up with for my first grader:

• Disposable rain poncho (we do live in the Pacific NW)
• Assorted waterproof  band-aids
• Emergency phone numbers on the back of my business card
• Pencil and small notebook
• $5.00 in $1.00 bills
• Light stick
• Energy bar
• Whistle 
• Water bottle ( one with a large opening so all items can be stored in it) 

The kit can adjusted seasonally to add things like sunscreen and lip balm in the summer.  My daughter helped me pick out the items for her kit and then helped me assemble it.  I think she thinks this is what I do at work, I can't break it to her that I sit in front of a computer most of the time.  Please feel free to share your Kids Kit suggestions in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter.  I'd love to see some different ideas.

Every year I see numerous back to school drive buckets and always pick up extra supplies to help fill the bucket.  Please help fill these buckets throughout the county.  I think this year I might make a few extra kits and drop them in the bucket with the supplies.

I am done talking about fall, you may return to your Regularly Programmed Summer now.