How and when you teach them is different for every child depending on their age, temperament and any special considerations specific to you and your family. 

Here are some things you might want to consider teaching them. 

Medical Emergencies

If your child is the only other person there when someone has a medical emergency, then they’ll need to know how to respond and how to get help. If someone in your family has a particular condition such as diabetes, allergies or heart conditions, then you should discuss this with them. You should also discuss with them what to do to get medical help. This could be going to a neighbours house or calling paramedics.  If your child is old enough, then basic first aid skills can be taught. You might need to brush up on these yourself so try https://cprcertificationnow.com/products/cpr-certification-online to get up to speed on life saving techniques. 

They need to be able to relay any important information to first responders such as what has happened, any existing medical conditions and address details. 

Talking To Strangers

You might think that this is a very straight forward one, but you’d be suprised at how kids can misinterpret it. For example, if you tell them never to speak to someone they don’t know, and a store assistant asks them a question or says hello, what do they do? Explain that they should talk to people they don’t know without you present and never to go anywhere with someone, even if they say they know you. 

Getting Lost 

Most parents have had that heart stopping experience of losing sight of their child outside, in a crowd or shopping centre. But if you get separated, then tell them to look for an information point of someone who works there. They should never go anywhere with a random person. If they are a little bit older, you can tell them to meet you at a certain location if you get separated.  There are trackers you can use when out and about with your child. 

Exit Points In Case Of A Fire

If there is a fire in the house, then your child needs to know what to do, whether that is stay in place or make their way out of the house. This is something you’ll have to work out based on the layout of your home. For example, if you are in a ground floor property, then the windows can be used as an escape point, which wouldn’t be the case if you were in an apartment or higher building. 

Key Points

Teaching kids how to react in an emergency is a balancing act. You don’t want to scare them but you do want to prepare them in case something happens and you’re not there. Hopefully, they’ll never need to use these skills but it is better that they know them and don’t need them rather than the other way around.