Wildfires can strike any time of the day or week.
Having a wildfire action plan designed to get your family to safety while you’re at home is critical, but there are plenty of hours during the day when everyone isn’t together.
It’s important to get your kids ready so they can be ready if a wildfire situation arises during a school day. Their teachers and school administrators will certainly work to protect them, but those dedicated adults need parent/guardian support as well.
Here are some ideas on how parents can play a role in back-to-school fire preparation:
Have Children Memorize Important Information
Don’t rely solely on mobile phones and the internet during a disaster. If batteries run down or power goes out, stored information can’t be accessed. Children should memorize:
- Home address
- Phone numbers for parents/guardians
- An out-of-town contact, in case parents/guardians are unreachable
- Evacuation Zones for both home and school
Make Sure Kids Carry Essential Supplies
- If your child has a cell phone, they should keep a charger in their schoolbag
- Make sure they have a supply of essential medicines in case they can’t get home
Coordinate with Your Schools
- Make sure your schools have your up-to-date contact info
- Emphasize to children the importance of following instructions from teachers and administrators
- Let your schools know if you have a location where your family has agreed to meet in case of an emergency
We strongly recommend reviewing your back-to-school fire preparation details whenever you rehearse your home fire response plan. For more important fire prevention tips, visit Be Ready, Butte! any time.