As a prepared neighbor, a concern of many parents with school-age kids is that they won’t be there to help them in a crisis situation. Putting together a kids’ emergency kit for school will help to alleviate some of the worry and anxiety. It’s imperative to prepare your kids as best as possible for anything beyond what the school’s classroom emergency kit provides.
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What Would Be A School Emergency Anyway?
There are a number of scenarios that would be considered an emergency situation at a school. In an emergency situation, it is important that each classroom has the necessary supplies to get through whatever the crisis might be. Potential Emergency Situations are:
The threat of Violence or Imminent Danger; can either be by an out-of-control student, outside intruder, or active shooter, having an emergency plan in place and proper preparation is essential in keeping the students safe.
Natural Disaster; a classroom lockdown may be necessary for the event of a natural disaster. Some examples include tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and even extreme storm conditions.
Regional Emergency; chemical threats can come from things like terrorist attacks and industrial or transportation accidents.
Why does my child need an Emergency Kit? I thought the school had that covered, right?
Do you know what your school’s emergency plan is and what supplies are provided? The needs of each school are dependent on a few variables such as their population, location, number of facilities, and resources available. School officials should consider what emergency items make sense for their campus.
FEMA
recommends the following Classroom Preparedness Checklist (from Ready.gov)
Classroom Supply Checklist
Clipboard with:
List of classroom students (and photo)
List of students with special needs and description of needs( i.e.medical issues, prescription medicines, dietary needs), marked confidential
List of emergency procedures
Whistle & hat (or other identifiers) for teacher
First-aid supplies
First aid instruction manual
Medical gloves
Food
Water
Battery-powered flashlight
Batteries
Blankets
Bucket
Sanitary items (towelettes & toilet paper)
Work gloves
Breathing masks
Plastic sheeting
Duct tape
Can opener
Hard candies
Student Activities
“Go Kits”
In case of an emergency evacuation, it is critical that every classroom and the administration maintain a “go kit,” a self-contained and portable stockpile of emergency supplies, often placed in a backpack and left in a readily accessible but secure location so that it is ready to “go.”
The school safety plan should reference the go kits and note the personnel to whom responsibility is delegated for stocking and replenishing them. The contents of the go kits should reflect the safety team’s consideration of the school’s circumstances and resources.
Go Kit Supply Checklist
Clipboard with:
List of classroom students (and photo)
List of students with special needs and description of needs( i.e.medical issues, prescription medicines, dietary needs), marked confidential
List of school emergency procedures
Whistle and hat for teacher identification
First aid kit with instructions
Student activities (such as playing cards, checkers, and inflatable ball)
Okay, But What Can I Do To Help Protect My Child?
I would suggest that you ask your child’s school about what their emergency preparedness plan is. Use the above list as a guideline when reviewing their plan.
Don’t be too concerned if they don’t go into much detail as they have security protocols they must follow. However, you can request any and all information that they are able to pass along. Don’t hesitate to be a little pushy here, you deserve and need to know the plan for your child’s safety.
To ensure you cover all of your bases, talk to the teacher about what his/her plan of action is in the event of an emergency situation. This will help you determine how well-prepared the school is to handle any situation and its ultimate ability to keep your child safe. Knowing these facts should help give you the peace of mind you deserve as a loving parent.
What To Put In A Kids’ Emergency Kit For School
What items do you want your child to have until you’re able to get to them? If you’re like us, you’ll want your kids to feel at ease and as comfortable as possible in a potentially stressful situation. It’s a good idea to include any important contact numbers and any additional pertinent information you feel would be beneficial.
You can put these items together for your child and leave them at their school in a safe location, like their classroom or locker. If your child has a backpack with multiple pockets, most of the recommended items could easily fit eliminating the need for an additional pack.
It’s extremely important that you discuss an emergency plan with your child. At the very least, they will have an idea of what to expect during an emergency and to follow their teacher’s instructions.
My Recommended items to Included In a School Emergency Kit
The following is a list of items for your kid’s emergency kit for school. You can add or remove any items as you see fit for your child’s individual needs and as well as their age.
Emergency Documents
Have an index card or piece of paper with your child’s emergency contacts and home address (the school should have this but better to be safe), pertinent medical information (include a copy of medical card if necessary), and any other information you want to be included.
Family Emergency Plan (copy)
This is in addition to the emergency documents. Make sure your child has a copy of your family plan that includes where you’re working during school hours and what your plan is to get to them during an emergency.
Water
Make sure your child has a refillable water bottle if they don’t already have one with them. You can also include water pouches that store for a long time, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Food
The school should have a food supply on hand but just in case it’s a good idea to have some items like; granola bars, protein bars, and peanut butter crackers.
Small First-aid Kit and Personal Medications
The first-aid kit can be as simple as a few band-aids and a tube of antibiotic ointment. For the youngsters pass along the knowledge on how to use what you’ve enclosed.
For personal medications like prescriptions or allergy meds make sure you check with your school. Most if not all schools have guidelines for bringing medication to school.
Small Flashlight
Just in case your child has to remain at school for an extended period of time, it’s dark outside and the power goes out. Having a personal flashlight or glow stick will go a long way to providing comfort.
Comfort Item’s
Dependent on age, a comfort item could be anything from a small stuffed animal to a family photo or both. Anything personal that will help your child feel more safe and secure.
Emergency Blanket
In the event the school loses heat, having an emergency Mylar blanket would help keep your child warm. Most likely your child would have their winter coats but you never know.
Cell Phone
Most kids these days have cell phones but for the younger ones and those that do not, it’s a good idea for them to have one of your throw-away phones in their pack. Teach your child how to use the cell phone and check with the school to make sure there aren’t any issues with your child having a phone for emergencies.
My Final Thoughts
If you’re like my wife and me, there is nothing more important than protecting your kids and teaching them the importance of being prepared for any emergency situation. As a prepared parent, you are taking the necessary steps to ensure your child’s safety while at school.
It’s important for you to make sure that your younger children understand that the items in their emergency kit aren’t for playing with. They need to know that the food items and/or water are not to be used for snack time or recess and not to discuss with their friends what they have in their packs, especially if you have included some toys.
As mentioned, follow the rules of your school about what can legally be brought onto campus. If you have concerns, talk to your school officials and find out what can be done.
Your #1 goal is to ensure your child’s safety while at school, especially during an emergency situation. My sincere hope and desire is that you find the information throughout this post helpful in achieving that goal.
