Preparedness Resources for Back-to-School

Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

With Summer winding down, it’s time to send the kids back to school. Whether your kids are homeschooling or attending classes in person, here’s how you can prepare them in case of emergency.

Preparing At Home

• Download and print this checklist to gauge your preparedness level
• Have an emergency kit in an easily-accessible area
• Go over your family’s emergency preparedness plan before school starts
• Make arrangements with a trusted neighbour or family friend to ensure your child’s safety if you can’t be with them right away in an emergency
• Run through practice scenarios with your children so they can confidently do what they need to do during a disaster

Collaborating With Your Child’s School

• Join your local PAC so you can advocate for emergency preparedness planning and education, such as the Government of BC’s Master of Disaster program
• Make sure your children know who they can contact if they can’t reach you
• If they are not provided by the school, ensure your child has access to a Basic Student Emergency Kit or Child Comfort Kit
• Keep your contact information up-to-date with the school so they can reach you or your designated emergency contact as needed

This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but we’ll update it with new resources as we come across them. Comment below and let us know how you prepare your kids for emergencies!