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• Identified special need
• Special equipment/medication
• Medical provider contact information
TIPS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS
For the safety and well-being of everyone you will want to inform parents about the safety of their children as well as your location immediately following an emergency or disaster. Here are a few tips on communicating with parents both before and after a disaster.
• Inform parents of your primary and secondary evacuation sites and the contact information.
• Share your emergency plan with parents at enrollment and annually.
• Provide parents with various ways to contact you (landline, cell, e-mail, neighbor’s phone number, etc.).
• Involve parents in your program’s practice drills.
• Notify parents if you have evacuated or remained at your facility after a disaster.
• Offer parents resources to help their child cope with the disaster. Contact your Resource & Referral agency for materials.
Share the Parent Information Card and Emergency Planning-Parent Tip Sheet in the Appendix. The wallet-size Parent Information Card should be with the parent at all times and should be updated as needed.
FAMILY REUNIFICATION
PLANNING BEFORE AN EMERGENCY
During an emergency, children can become separated from their child care provider and/or parents. There
are several things you can do before an emergency occurs to help reunite children with their caregivers. After Hurricane Katrina it took 7 months before the last child was reunited with their parent. Following the practices below will help minimize the time it takes to bring a child back together with their parent or a guardian immediately after a disaster.
CHILD EMERGENCY INFORMATION CARD
Emergency information must be on record for every child and updated regularly. As contact information for parents/guardians can change it is recommended this information card be updated every 4 months.
• Keep copies of the most recently updated Child Emergency Information Form in your facility’s office, classrooms and in the Ready-to-Go evacuation kit.
• During an evacuation this can clipped or pinned on the inside of a child’s shirt, in their comfort backpack or placed in the ankle part of a child’s sock.
• Forms kept on-site should be maintained in a safe and secure place that is not visible to others.
• Update minimum of 4 times per year and as needed. Holiday parties, parent meetings and other program events are a good time to get parents/guardians to update their child’s form.
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