10 life-saving tips your child must know during a typhoon

Disaster Preparedness Plan: What kids should do during a typhoon

It’s typhoon season once again but are you ready? As parents, it is our responsibility to protect our family at all times especially when disaster strikes. In a country where experiencing several typhoons in a year is inevitable, we must then have a disaster preparedness plan ready.

A typhoon disaster preparedness plan must contain the steps that you and your kids must take in case you get separated or in case you need to evacuate. We’ve listed down some tips on what you can include in your plan.

Keep calm and inform parents about their whereabouts.

Make sure your kids know that they have to contact you about their location when a typhoon starts and they’re not with you or not at home. Older kids must have your contact numbers as well as those of your trusted relatives or friends, whom they can call in case of emergency.

Stay inside and avoid wading through flooded areas.

Tell your kids that they’re safest at home and that wading in the flood can cause sickness or electrocution.

Close all windows and doors.

Protect your things from getting wet from the rain. Closed doors will also prevent large debris from going inside your house in case of flooding.

Monitor the weather condition via local radio or television.

It’s always best to be informed so monitoring the news is a must. Have a battery-operated radio on standby so that you can still listen to the news in case there is no electricity.

Locate the emergency kit.

The Philippine Red Cross suggests that each member of the household must have a lifeline kit that will last them for at least 72 hours. You must prepare this before disaster strikes and make sure your kids know where to find them.

Relocate important belongings to higher ground.

In case you’re not home and have left important documents or electronics such as cellphones and laptops lying around when a typhoon starts, ask your kids to collect them and move them to a place where they won’t get wet.

Do not use electrical devices during the flood.

In case of flooding, you must turn off the main electrical switch in your house. Make sure your kids know that using electrical devices at this time can be dangerous.

Watch out for lighted candles and gas lamps.

Lighted candles and gas lamps can cause fire. Avoid starting another disaster by watching over them. If your kids are alone in the house, tell them to avoid using these and use rechargeable lamps instead.

Secure your pets.

Our pets are part of the family too. So secure them and put them in a place where they can be safe and dry. Don’t forget to prepare your pet’s own emergency kit of food and other essentials.

Evacuate when local authorities advice it.

There are cases wherein it’s no longer safe to stay at home. Advice your kids that it’s okay to evacuate as long as it’s upon advice of local authorities. If you’re not with your kids during evacuation, remind them to tell you which evacuation center they were taken.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Janice Lim

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Written by

Janice Lim

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