Editorial: August is time to plan for emergencies
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August is Emergency Planning Month, and with kids heading back to school later this month, it’s the perfect time to review your family’s plans for emergencies.
When an emergency happens, it’s too late to come up with a plan for where everyone needs to be or who’s responsible for what.
The Maryville Fire Department has some tips on what situations your family should prepare for:
Talk about what to do if there’s a fire, severe weather or if your child can’t reach you
Review what to do in school-related emergencies like lockdowns, early dismissals or evacuation drills
Make sure your child knows who can pick them up and where your family will meet up in an emergency
Practice your plan together and keep emergency contacts updated with the school
No one can plan when an emergency might happen or what it might be. And going through the steps might sound like something you’d never have to go through, anyway.
But planning ahead helps kids feel confident and keeps families connected. And it also gives kids a chance to ask questions and think responsibly during emergencies great and small that they might encounter when you’re not around.
Why not have a plan?
