Family Safety Plan  

 Is Your Family Prepared? 

If an emergency happens in your home or community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. There are things you can do to help teach your child(ren) about safety and involve them in the planning. By creating your own emergency plan and building an emergency kit, each family member will know what to do in case of an emergency.  

Step 1. Know the risks 

Although the consequences of various dangers, accidents and disasters can be similar, knowing the risks in your home and community can help you better prepare. Check your home for potential hazards, such as loose wires, sharp objects, or unsecured cabinets. 

Step 2. Make a plan 

Every household needs an emergency plan. It will help you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency. It will take you about 20 minutes to make your plan. 

Your family may not be together when an emergency occurs. Plan how to meet or how to contact one another and discuss what you would do in different situations. 

Safe home instructions 

Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and well-stocked first aid kit. If you live in an apartment, or if you are staying in a hotel, know where the fire alarms and at least two emergency exits are located. 

Make sure you have a fire extinguisher on every level of your home, including one in your kitchen. Everyone in your home should know where to find the fire extinguishers. All capable adults and older children should know how to use it. See instructions regarding the lifetime of your fire extinguisher and check with your local fire department for more information. 

Older children and adults should know how to turn off your home’s water, electricity and gas. Make large, easy-to-see signs for water and gas shut-offs as well as for the electrical panel. 

Teach children how and when to dial 9-1-1 as well as how to call a designated out-of-town emergency contact for your family. 

Teach your children about online safety and the importance of privacy. Monitor their internet activities and set boundaries. 

Make sure everyone in your family knows how to perform basic first aid. Attend CPR or first aid training if needed. 

During an emergency, limit phone calls to urgent messages only. Keep calls short to free up the lines for others. Keep in mind that if there is no power, cell phones will need back-up/portable batteries. 

Emergency instructions 

Call 9-1-1 (where available) to report a fire, a crime, or to save a life. 

For non-emergency calls, use the ten-digit numbers listed in your local phone book, or this emergency plan, for police, fire and other health services. 

When notifying emergency services of your location, provide the exact street or civic address and nearest intersection. 

For the gas and water valves, keep shut-off instructions close by and read them carefully. 

In an emergency 

Follow your emergency plan. 

Get your emergency kit. 

Make sure you are safe before assisting others. 

Listen to the radio or television for information from authorities. Local officials may advise you to stay where you are. Follow their instructions. 

Stay put until all is safe or until you are ordered to evacuate. 

Evacuation orders 

Authorities will not ask you to leave your home unless they have reason to believe that you may be in danger. 

If you are ordered to evacuate, take your emergency kit, your wallet, personal identification for each family member and copies of essential family documents with you. Bring a cellular phone and spare battery or charger with you, if you have one. Use travel routes specified by local authorities. 

If you have time, call or e-mail your out-of-town contact. Tell them where you are going and when you expect to arrive. Once you are safe, let them know. Tell them if any family members have become separated. 

If possible, leave a note telling others when you left and where you are. Shut off water and electricity if officials tell you to do so. 

Leave natural gas service on unless officials tell you to turn it off. If you turn off the gas, the gas company has to reconnect it. In a major emergency, it could take weeks for a professional to respond. 

Take pets with you. Lock your home. Follow instructions from the authorities. 

If you go to an evacuation center, register your personal information at the registration desk. Do not return home until authorities advise that it is safe to do so. 

Step 3. Get an emergency kit 

In an emergency, you will need some basic supplies. You may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours (about 3 days). 

You may have some of the items already, such as food, water and a battery-operated or crank flashlight. The key is to make sure they are organized and easy to find. Would you be able to find your flashlight in the dark? 

Make sure your kit is easy to carry and everyone in the household knows where it is. Keep it in a backpack, duffle bag or suitcase with wheels, in an easy-to-reach, accessible place, such as your front-hall closet. If you have many people in your household, your emergency kit could get heavy. It’s a good idea to separate some of these supplies in backpacks. That way, your kit will be more portable, and each person can personalize his or her own grab-and-go emergency kit. 

Basic emergency kit 

• Water – at least two liters of water per person per day; include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order 
• Food that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (replace food and water once a year) 
• Manual can-opener 
• Crank or battery-powered flashlight (and extra batteries). Replace batteries once a year. 
• Crank, battery-powered radio (and extra batteries) or Weather radio 
• First aid kit 
• Extra keys to your car and house 
• Some cash in smaller bills, such as $10 bills and change for payphones 
• A copy of your emergency plan and contact information 
• If applicable, other items such as prescription medication, infant formula, equipment for people with disabilities, or food, water and medication for your pets or service animal (personalize according to your needs) 

Keep a corded phone in your home, as most cordless phones will not work during a power outage. 

If applicable, other items such as prescription medication, infant formula, equipment for people with disabilities, or food, water and medication for your pets or service animal (personalize according to your needs).