Family Emergency Plan Checklist for Parents with Children

Why Family Emergency Planning with Children is Different

Emergency preparedness for families with children requires additional layers: children can't drive themselves to safety, may be at school when a disaster strikes, need age-appropriate preparation to avoid trauma, and require different communication strategies.

This checklist is specifically designed for parents and guardians. Work through it section by section.

Section 1: Children's Identification and Medical Information

• Photo of each child taken within the last 6 months (clear face photo)
• Photo of each child with you (proof of guardianship in emergency)
• Each child's full name, date of birth, and identifying features written down
• Each child's health information documented:
  • Medical conditions
  • Medications (names, dosages, administration schedule)
  • Allergies (food and medication)
  • Blood type
  • Primary physician contact
  • Pediatric emergency specialist if applicable
• Children's health insurance information accessible
• Children's vaccination records updated and copied
• Any special needs, mobility aids, or medical equipment documented

Section 2: School and Childcare Emergency Protocols

• School's emergency notification system: parents registered and contacts current
• School emergency contact procedures understood and documented
• Authorized pickup list current at school (who besides parents can pick up your child)
• School's reunification location known (where children are sent if school is evacuated)
• Contact for school principal and class teacher stored
• After-school program or daycare emergency procedures reviewed

Questions to ask your child's school:

• What is the protocol if a disaster occurs during school hours?
• Where are children taken if the school must evacuate?
• How are parents notified?
• Who is authorized to pick up my child?

Section 3: Family Communication Plan

• Family meeting point decided and communicated to all children (age-appropriately)
• Children know the family's out-of-area emergency contact (name and phone number)
• Children old enough to have phones have key numbers in speed dial
• Younger children have parent's phone number written in their backpack
• "Check-in" procedure practiced: who calls whom, in what order
• Children know what to do if they can't reach a parent: _____________
• Children know their home address (important for younger children — practice it)
• Children know at least one parent's phone number by heart

Age-appropriate communication expectations:

• Ages 3-5: Know their full name and parent's first name. Know how to call 112.
• Ages 6-10: Know home address. Know parent's phone number. Know family meeting point.
• Ages 11+: Full participation in family communication plan. Know backup contacts.

Section 4: Children's Emergency Go-Bags

Every child should have their own age-appropriate bag:

For children under 8 (parents mostly carry this):

• Water bottle
• Snacks (familiar, non-perishable)
• Small comfort item (stuffed animal, toy)
• Change of clothes
• Any medications
• ID card (sewn inside bag)

For children 8-12:

• Water bottle (500 ml minimum)
• 1-day food supply (energy bars, dried fruit)
• Small flashlight
• Change of clothes
• Any medications
• Phone or simple communication device
• Emergency card (parent's contact, home address, emergency number 112)

For teenagers:

• Full go-bag comparable to adult (appropriate weight)
• Phone with power bank
• Emergency cash (€10-20)
• Personal medications
• Copy of important personal documents

Section 5: Emergency Drills and Preparation

• Home fire evacuation drill conducted with all family members
• Children know two exit routes from their bedrooms
• Family meeting points practiced (near home AND away from neighborhood)
• Emergency call (112) role-played age-appropriately
• "What to do if you're home alone during an emergency" discussed with older children
• Drills scheduled on calendar for future repetition

Drill frequency:

• Fire evacuation: twice per year
• Family communication drill: once per year
• School emergency plan review: at start of each school year

Section 6: Special Situations

Infants and Toddlers

• Formula or specialized food: 2-week supply stored
• Diapers: 2-week supply stored
• Bottles, pacifiers, comfort items packed in emergency kit
• Any specialized medical equipment (medications, medical devices) in emergency kit
• Car seat checked and secured in family vehicle

Children with Special Needs

• Medical equipment and power requirements documented
• Backup power for critical medical devices available
• Medications: 2-week supply stored
• Communication tools for non-verbal children included
• School and therapists notified of emergency planning
• Local emergency management office notified of special needs (some offer priority assistance)

Teenagers

• Teens fully briefed on family emergency plan
• Teens have their own emergency contacts and know the family plan
• Driving-age teens know two evacuation routes from home and school
• Teens know not to drive through flooded roads

Section 7: Talking to Children About Emergencies

How you discuss emergencies with children matters enormously for their psychological wellbeing and practical preparedness:

Principles:

• Frame it as "what our family does to stay safe" not "what could go wrong"
• Age-appropriate information: toddlers need simple procedures, teens need full context
• Practice makes the plan less scary — drills normalize the procedures
• Answer questions honestly; don't dismiss fears
• Emphasize empowerment: "Here's what YOU can do"

What to avoid:

• Graphic descriptions of disaster scenarios with young children
• Making children responsible for adult decisions
• Dismissing their concerns ("don't worry, nothing will happen")

Monthly Maintenance

• Check go-bag contents (snacks/water not expired)
• Verify children still know key phone numbers and plan
• Update school contact information if anything has changed

Annual Review

• Update photos of all children
• Update medical information for any changes
• Review school emergency protocols at start of each academic year
• Update authorized pickup lists at school
• Re-practice drills and update plan as children grow

A family emergency plan created once and never revisited becomes outdated quickly — children grow, circumstances change, and the plan needs to evolve. Build the annual review into your schedule.