Include your children in family discussions and planning for emergency safety.
- Teach your children their basic personal information so they can identify themselves and get help if they become separated from a parent or guardian.
- Know the policies of the school or daycare centre your children attend. Make plans to have someone pick them up if you are unable to get to them.
- Regularly update your child’s school with current emergency contact information and persons authorised to pick up your child from school.
- Make sure each child knows the family’s alternate meeting sites if you are separated in a emergency and cannot return to your home.
- Make sure each child knows how to reach your family’s contact person.
- Teach children to dial their home telephone number and emergency 9-9-9.
- Teach children what gas smells like and advise them to tell an adult if they smell gas after an emergency.
- Warn children never to touch wires on poles or lying on the ground.
- Role-play with children to help them remain calm in emergencies and to practise basic emergency responses such as evacuation routes
- Role-play with children as to what they should do if a parent is suddenly sick or injured.
- Role-play with children on what to say when calling emergency 9-9-9.
The preparing for emergencies booklet.pdf (1309Kb) is a short useful guide to help you protect you and your family.
The booklet is available in a number of languages.
Links to guidance relating to specific emergency situations is available.