Emergency Preparedness: Natural and Human-Generated Disasters

Two disaster scenarios that could happen in an early childhood setting located in an urban city could be a fire or break-in situation. In either situation, everyone is at risk and it is important that the children and adults in the situation are prepared for what could possibly happen.

In terms of a fire, which could be caused by a faulty outlet, plans of escape should be posted and known by all providers in the building. Each month, fire drills are to be enacted in order to prepare everyone for the situation if it were to occur. During these drills at the center I work, we evacuate our class to the front parking lot. There we count heads and account for all the children who were present in the class. Since we are a large center, the office staff handles the emergency contact information for the families. If everyone is not prepared for the event, then confusion could occur and people may be harmed. When everyone knows what to do in case of a fire, everything runs smoothly and little or no harm is caused. The families of the children in the setting are advised to go over the safety plans for fires such as stop, drop and roll in the event that anyone’s clothing should catch fire. They should also discuss the safety concerns such as listening to surrounding adults and staying close to the ground.

In the case of a break-in, a lockdown of the building would occur. A lockdown consists of the entire building locking, classroom doors shut and locked, windows covered and students staying quiet and together out of sight such as in a closet or bathroom. This prevents the intruder from gaining access to the children and causing them harm. During the lockdown, the office handles contacting the families with appropriate information. The teachers are strictly responsible for keeping the children safe and calm. It is important for the adults to remain calm, which helps to keep the children calm and quiet. Similar to fire drills, lockdown drills are also practiced in so that the children also are aware of what to do if the situation were to occur. If drills are not practice on a regular basis chaos may erupt, causing harm to the children. It is also important for the families to be aware of these drills so that they may talk with children about the importance of listening and following directions so that they may remain safe.

In both disasters, it is crucial to have a plan posted around the building. It is also equally important to participate in monthly drills in order to inform the children of what needs to happen in case of either emergency. The families also play an important role in helping the children understand the importance of the disaster. When handled correctly, disasters can be contained and injuries or harm can be minimal or eliminated.