Earthquake Preparedness for Children

Earthquake Safety and Disaster Information for Parents

May 4, 2009 Julia Wooldridge

A few simple changes around the home and a family earthquake plan can keep children alive and safe during a major earthquake.

A major earthquake strikes very quickly and without warning and can be very frightening and traumatic for children. They may become very anxious, confused and not understand what is happening or what they should do next. Parents can minimize injury and anxiety by preparing their children in advance of an earthquake by having regular earthquake drills, putting together a family earthquake plan and preparing the home for a disaster.

Prepare your Home for an Earthquake

Prepare an emergency earthquake kit and check it often to ensure you have what you need and to replace expired items. To help emergency workers find lost or missing children include finger print id cards and recent photos. For very young children keep a diaper bag stocked and ready to go at all times with extra supplies of diapers, wipes and formula.

Ensure cribs and beds are not placed near windows where children can be hurt by falling glass. Secure book shelves and tall furniture to the wall and put latches on cupboards to stop furniture and other items falling and injuring children. Heavy items on high shelves and hanging plants should be bought down closer to the ground but still out of reach of young children. Securing items helps to childproof your home as well as be earthquake safe.

Create a Family Earthquake Plan

Talk to your children about what might happen during an earthquake and what they need to do to stay safe. Be sure to include what will happen if parent and child are separated and decide how you will meet up again. Make sure emergency cards are filled out at your child’s school and keep it updated. When children are old enough they should be taught how to dial 911 and to know when it is appropriate to do so.

Identify safe and unsafe spots in the house to take cover. A safe spot could be under a sturdy desk, table or alongside a strong inside wall. An unsafe place to take cover would be by a window or mirror, near tall furniture or under overhead light fixtures. Walk through your house and point these out to your children.

Practice Earthquake Drills

The Los Angeles Fire Department recommends practicing earthquake drills by physically going through what you would do if an earthquake occurs. At a given signal, children should ‘duck, cover and hold on’ in one of the designated safe spots. Practice two ways to escape out of every room of the house. Locate and go to a designated safe location away from the house in case it becomes unsafe to be in. Practice drills at least every six months.

Educate Children about Earthquakes

Understanding what earthquakes are and what causes them to happen can help to alleviate a lot of stress in children when they are forced to deal with one in reality. There are many online sources that can help teach them about earthquakes with downloadable puzzles, games and coloring pages.

The U.S Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program website is a great place for children to learn more about earthquakes in a scientific and non threatening way. Consider age appropriate books that can be read together with your child as another way to become familiar with the inevitable if you live in an earthquake zone.

If an earthquake strikes in your area, the best thing that you can do for your child is to remain calm; they will be relying on you to get through the earthquake and its aftermath. By projecting calmness and automatically putting the family earthquake plan into action, you will instill a sense of confidence into your child that you will be able to get through the disaster safely.

The copyright of the article Earthquake Preparedness for Children in Health Field is owned by Julia Wooldridge. Permission to republish Earthquake Preparedness for Children in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Major Earthquake

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