Teaching Emergencies
A few days ago we watched a movie where there was a small fire. My boys sat on the edge of their seats, wide eyes fixed on the big firetruck with the bright lights and loud noises. And of course the high powered water hoses were pretty cool too. Since then fires, and fire trucks, have been a big part of the convrsations going on around here.
Then came the recent tragety of Heath Ledger. It was a shocking death that happened so suddenly. Though he was alone I couldn’t hlp but wonder what if he had been watching his daughter that day. Maybe I’ve watched Steel Magnolias too many times, but the fear of something happening to me while I am home alone with my kids is a very real fear to me.
That is why yesterday we spent the day learning 911, talking about going next door to the neighbor’s house, and trying to explain (in a very non-scary way) what to do if something happens. We took a walk outside and stopped to smell the air where one house had a wood burning fireplace, talked about how that smell means fire and what the other clues for fire are.
Here are a few links I found online to help with teaching children about emergencies and calling 911. Many police stations and fire departments also have their own resources that they distribute to local schools. Check with them and see if they have any of those resources on hand and if they offer them to individual parents. If you let them know that you are a homeschooling parent they may offr you several copies to give to other local homeschooling families. You might even be able to talk them into a field trip if you can get enough families willing to join.
911, emergencies, homeschooling, lesson plans
January 25th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I may use some of these sites with my Girl Scouts! Thanks!
January 25th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Never a bad lesson to have and we repeat it annually, even with the kids being teens and Scouts.
Pop by the Cafe, have a crazy award that I feel my fellow moms may especially be able to relate to…I am not giving it out, you have to snag it, as I shall not judge, lest I be judged.
January 25th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I always have that fear, too, Summer. I haven’t really covered much with my son about calling 911, but I intend to now.
Another great way to teach kids about emergencies and safety is that wonderful book, Officer Buckle and Gloria. It’s one of my son’s favorites (even if it’s no longer a challenging read for him). He took it upon himself at one point to begin coming up with his own safety rules and we wrote them on Post-It Notes that we stuck on our bulletin board, just like Officer Buckle did.
That book’s a great, friendly way to get kids thinking about safety. So is No Dragons for Tea, which teaches younger kids about fire safety.
January 25th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
A few years ago, my daughter (who was about 8 at the time), asked to call our neighbor. She did, seemed puzzled, and hung up. A moment later, the phone rang, and she answered. She seemed puzzled again, and handed it to me. It was a 911 operator, asking if we had a problem.
Our neighbor’s number starts 691-15.. and she’d forgotten the 6.
January 28th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Thank you for these links. I just reviewed our ‘escape plan’ in case of fire and these links will be a good follow up to see what I missed.