| circumstances create high amounts of stress, not | | | | such as CPR, clearing a person's airway, or giving |
| only for adults, but children also. Whether it is a | | | | mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, it is beneficial for |
| fire, flood or earthquake, children need to know | | | | them to know what it is in case they ever |
| what to do and how to do it in order to minimize | | | | witness it. Traumatic events cause more fear and |
| stress and anxiety. Have you heard stories on the | | | | tension if they are completely new or unfamiliar. |
| news about a child who saves a family by staying | | | | Community Service. Create a sense of belonging, |
| calm, calling 911, and following directions? Being | | | | responsibility, and service for your family by |
| prepared to help in an emergency saves lives. | | | | participating in city wide clean-ups or other service |
| What makes it possible for a child in a high stress | | | | projects. Involvement teaches children that many |
| situation to be ready to help? | | | | hands make light work and that we all need to |
| Establish and Practice Home Emergency Plans. | | | | help each other to get a job done. If there ever |
| Everyone in the family needs to be aware of | | | | is a need for community work during an |
| potential disasters and what to do if they occur. | | | | emergency children will know how to help and |
| Start family emergency planning with a | | | | work together. |
| brainstorming session. (Depending on the age of | | | | Teach Health and Fitness. Having a strong mind |
| your children you may need to explain that | | | | and a healthy body aids a person in a disaster. |
| brainstorming is sharing whatever comes to mind. | | | | Being able to react and withstand challenges is an |
| No idea is bad and no one should be laughed at | | | | important component of physical readiness. Youth |
| for their contributions.) After brainstorming pull out | | | | can help with tasks such as sandbagging, |
| the most effective ideas and make a family | | | | shoveling, and cleaning if they have been physically |
| written plan and post it in a public place. Put plans | | | | active and living a healthy lifestyle. |
| into action by rehearsing drills. After each trial, | | | | Laughter is the Best Medicine. Humor reduces |
| evaluate performance to make the plan run more | | | | stress and anxiety by releasing feel-good |
| smoothly. Planning in such a way allows children to | | | | hormones in the brain, promoting positive thinking |
| maintain control of their responses and actions, | | | | and emotion. Make humor apart of everyday life. |
| even when emergencies are out of their control. | | | | Encourage good jokes and optimism. Practice |
| Planning increases their ability to respond calmly in | | | | making tense situations lighter with laughter. |
| an emergency. | | | | Children will be reassured and relaxed during the |
| Enroll Youth in Programs. Community youth | | | | stress that is associated with emergency if they |
| programs teach important life skills. These | | | | can have the healthy outlet of laughter. |
| programs prepare children by enlarging upon the | | | | Being prepared for possible emergencies increases |
| lessons from home and school. Organizations such | | | | confidence, knowledge and skill in children of all |
| as The American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of | | | | ages. Because emergencies can cause high stress |
| America, Girls Scouts of U.S.A, and R.A.D. Kids | | | | and have a negative impact and effect on |
| promote emergency preparedness and skills, and | | | | people's lives, especially children, it is important to |
| often assist families by offering good exercises to | | | | take the necessary steps to prepare them for |
| do at home. | | | | such situations. Also remember that children react |
| First Aid Classes. Teach, review, and practice | | | | to the emotions of those around them and can |
| basic first aid with children. Talk about more | | | | sense when there is fear, stress or anxiety. The |
| complicated first aid procedures, even if they are | | | | best way to help a child in an emergency is to be |
| not physically capable of doing them. Although | | | | prepared to deal with the situation yourself. |
| children may not be able to perform procedures | | | | |