They can't all belong to someone else.
Will one of these children be yours?
Emergencies happen. It could be a fall from a bike, a sudden high fever or seizure, a pot knocked from the stove. What if your child started choking during dinner? What if she was stung by a bee and suddenly couldn't breathe? Would you know what to do? The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that an emergency exists if you think your child could die or suffer permanent harm unless care is received right away. Most parents feel they are prepared for emergencies because they know when and how to call 9-1-1. But often, that isn't enough. Your child may need care before emergency medical service personnel arrive. And being prepared can assure your child isn't further harmed by doing the wrong thing. We want to help you prepare, because no matter how hard you try to protect your children - emergencies happen.
Why emergency planning is important.
The first moments after an injury or onset of an illness are often the most critical. The key is remaining calm, knowing what to do, and making a decision to act. Take a look at the following list of potential emergencies, and ask yourself if you'd know what to do, or not to do, to help your child until emergency medical service personnel arrive:
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizure or convulsion
- Choking on food, drink, or object
- Serious fall
- Severe burn
- Firearm wound
- Suffocating
- Difficulty breathing
- Drowning
- Eating or drinking something poisonous
- Heavy bleeding that will not stop
- Injury from a car or bike crash
- High fever
- Diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than 24 hours
Writing down important information can help save your child's life. What if you and your child were in a car crash and you couldn't speak? What if your child got sick in day care and you couldn't be reached right away? Emergency medical personnel are going to have questions, and someone has to be able to find answers - fast.
That's why it's so important to have information about your children written down. In the back of this brochure, you'll find an easy-to-use emergency plan. After you complete it, here's what to do:
- Put your emergency plan on the refrigeratorPut a copy by every phone in your house
- Give a copy to day care providers, relatives, and babysitters
- Give a copy to the school nurse
- Give a copy to neighbors, friends, and coworkers
- Put a copy in your purse, glove compartment, and child's backpack
- Send a copy to your local fire/EMS department
