Have you got a "What to do in an emergency" plan for the kids?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Dh has a few work things coming up taking him away for a few weeks. I'm not a worrier typically, but it does cross my mind of what is of something happens to me while he is away - would the kids know what to do.

I wondered if it's worth just having some instructions somewhere- even something like how to unlock my phone to call a relative for help. A copy of the house key in case they need to leave. A torch. What to do if they can't wake me up or I've had a fall/slip and gone unconscious.

They are 8 and 5 so I suppose it's mainly for the 8yo.

Does anyone have anything like this in place?

Quite simply how to dial 999 and say your address.

Potentially a key with the knowledge of which neighbour to go to.

What do you tell them if they wake and there is a fire?

You do what your instinct tells you, which is to get out.

You sound very anxious OP about this situation and I wonder if something has previously happened or whether you’re a natural worrier?

Yes, my 5 year old knows how to dial 999 in an emergency, including how to do.it on the house phone. She knows that if she can't wake me or I hurt myself to badly to talk to her then this is what she should do. She can also give our her full name and address and has been able to since she was 3 in case of being lost. She's quite savvy though

No I'm not a natural worrier, but I don't like to think if the eldest panicking or getting upset and being left with a burden of sorting the emergency and having her little sibling around to deal with too.

You sound a bit overly anxious, OP.

I have also thought about this. So many people have no support.

I think this should be incorporated into government planning, some way for a lone parent to register if they are vulnerable? Not everybody has family or neighbours to call on.

Do you have family within a reasonable distance?

You could buy a (totally wrong name) emergency buzzer thing that’s used on older people that the children could press to alert family if they needed help?

I think every parent has a worst case scenario at the very back of their mind...it's not being over-anxious to examine it - IMO.

If they wake and theres a fire, they know to go in to one of the bedrooms, shut the door and open a window. They both know how to dial 999 and their address.
My worry is more when they're at their dads as he's less safety conscious.

I am alone with my dc for half the year OP So I get what you mean. And yes...

Mine know our address and how to call 999

They know what to do in a fire, they know how to get out their bedroom windows (we have a bunglalow) and where to go that is safe.

Pentium great idea.

I have epilepsy, which has been controlled by medication since DC1 was a baby, so DC aren't really aware. They are the same age as your DC and we have talked to DC1 about how to call an ambulance in an emergency. We used to have an emergency buzzer thing (I also can't remember what its name was) that was linked to DH's phone, so they just had to press it and he would phone me but if there was no response he could come home but his work is not far from home. We also had the issue that until recently DC1 was not tall enough to be able to open the front door to let emergency services in. We haven't really covered any other emergency scenarios though.

Not at all overly anxious! I have a chronic illness so have always had something in place. I have a landline phone which was designed for the use of elderly people, it has large speed dial buttons where you can insert photos of family members. I did regular practices on how to use with my 3 year old, as 999 would not always necessarily be appropriate. I also taught her her own address, and we had a pink plastic folder with medical and emergency contact details, and spare key within her reach so she could open the door if necessary. There were obviously rules as to when to use it and we used to do role play.

I am not particularly symptomatic now so this has mainly lapsed but this thread has reminded me to update and check over what my now 8 year old can do and knows in case of an emergency. she would now be better able to determine when 999 would be appropriate for starters

I don’t think you’re being rude overly worried OP. I have had the same thoughts as DH is often away and I have no local family support either. My kids are the same age as yours. I have taught my DS to dial 999 but he could probably do with a recap. And to be honest DD could also do with knowing what to do too.

Our local fire station has them all in at YR1 and explain fire safety and what to do. They draw plans of he house and escape routes.

I have taught mine to call 999 from home and mobile phones and they know the address.

I don't think you're being overly anxious at all. If something did happen, someone would be bound to ask why your 8 year old didn't know what to do! We have just been discussing this at home, we think our 5 year old needs information like this also.

Random ‘rude’ in my reply!

I don't think it's overly anxious at all. I teach the children I look after how to unlock my phone and call 999, make sure they know their address, what to do if there's a fire etc.
My friend had a hypoglycemic seizure last year when she was alone with her 5 and 3 year olds. Luckily they knew how to unlock her phone and they called their dad and probably saved her life.

Always good to have a plan. My two were six and four when DH broke his leg. He could call the ambulance, but it was up to the six year old to let the crew in, find everything they needed etc.

They learnt basic first aid in Beavers at 5&6, with Recovery position, ringing emergency services, how to get help etc. Accidents can happen at any time.

I was a single dm with 4 x dc. Never occurred to me to be worried I didn't have a man around...
We had no phone either.

Fluttering I'm not worrying "because I don't have a man around". I'm worrying because I dont have another adult around for the kids to go to.

I know a lot of people don't have a landline these days. However, it is easier for children to use, and no danger of the battery going flat!

Teaching kids where keys are kept and making sure they know how to open the door in an emergency is important too.

Mine know to go to their bathrooms shut the door and stuff a wet towel under the door if they can't use the stairs in the event of a fire my fireman uncle told me to tell them this as their main bedroom doors are fire doors so that'll give them hopefully time before fire service turns up.

They should know to ring 999 if you are incapacitated and know their address too.

The older ones know recovery position and how to do CpR as school teaches it.