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Home Alone
Is Your Preteen Ready?
By Kendeyl Johansen
Keeping Kids Safe
An emergency probably won't happen while you're not home, but what if a crisis does occur? Whether faced with a fire, a flood or a cut forehead, your child needs to know what to do and which calls to make. Here are some tips:
- Teach your child basic first aid.
- Leave emergency contact numbers by the telephone. Be sure to include 911 (discuss when it would be appropriate to call), cell phone numbers for you and your spouse, poison control, a close neighbor and a nearby friend or relative. It's also a good idea to leave the number for an out-of-state relative or friend since local lines can be tied up due to a nearby emergency.
Create an emergency evacuation plan. Discuss two escape routes for each room. Talk about disasters that could happen in your area, such as wildfires, earthquakes, floods or severe snowstorms. Practice your evacuation plan. Tell your child to turn on the radio for instructions if a disaster occurs. - Teach fire safety. Decide upon two sites to meet in case of fire or another disaster. One meeting place should be near your home. The other should be outside of the neighborhood, in case the neighborhood is inaccessible.