You can’t predict them, but at least you can mitigate their effects or prevent them altogether. Emergencies are, well, emergencies. They come knocking on your door unexpectedly or come crashing into your household. Whatever the nature, the key is to be prepared, whatever that is, whenever it strikes. And the priority remains: family safety.
Looking after yourself in an emergency is one thing; ensuring toddler safety is another. Parents, how then do you arm yourselves and maintain toddler safety in uncalled-for situations?
Educate yourself
Be prepared. Especially when with your toddlers, you can’t afford to make big mistakes. Toddler safety should be your main priority. Know what types of natural disasters your area is prone to experience, like floods. Although you can’t predict earthquakes, you may be living in an earthquake-prone community. Check histories of these disasters in your community.
Formulate an escape plan for toddler safety
This includes securing toddler supplies and escape routes, keeping in mind all the people in your household.
Securing toddler safety entails vigilance and presence of mind. Picture all possible scenarios–when you’re not with your toddler at home, when your toddler is left at home with the nanny, when your toddler is at a childcare center, etc and plan for these.
Fully secure toddler safety by buying substantial toddler emergency supplies to augment your usual survival supplies–sterilized bottles, unopened milk, toddler food that’s not easily perishable, toddler clothes and bedding, diapers, and a hefty amount of drinking water, perhaps the most important supply you could carry along for your toddler in cases of emergencies.
For communication, keep a spare fully charged phone with credits in your survival kit so you have a reliable back up in case you run out of batteries on your own phone.
If your toddler is constantly with a nanny, especially if at a day care centre, give clear instructions for toddler safety for your nanny. Impress upon the importance of securing toddler safety all throughout.
Know pertinent contact numbers, including people outside the community
Keep a list of police, fire stations, hospitals, your toddler’s day care centre, and other numbers and post these in a prominent spot in your house for easy reference. Keep a copy which individual members could keep anywhere you go in case of emergencies. It is important for your toddler’s nannies to be informed of these to ensure toddler safety. Orient your household where these are located, as well as other places of refuge they can run to.
It’s also wise to keep numbers of relatives or friends who live in other communities reachable by land transport, from which you can also seek refuge in case of evacuation.
