A Natural disaster in Kansas such as a tornado is very common for this state; every year towns are leveled due to tornado's during the spring and summer months. The best thing is to be prepared and know your emergency plan if there is a Warning issued in the county the Facility is located. Also knowing what counties are surrounding the county in which the facility is located is good knowledge to allow extra time in order to seek shelter and get the children there in time.
Having a weather radio on site that is set for your county and surrounding counties is the best and fastest way to be alerted to dangerous storms and tornado warnings, knowing your facilities tornado plan and having it posted in each classroom and throughout the building is required by the State of Kansas. Knowing where to go when there is a tornado warning and practicing monthly tornado drills is also required by the state of Kansas. Creating a plan is easy; know where to go in your building that is structurally sound and safe, if the facility has a basement it’s best to go there. Line the children up and walk them calmly to the safe destination and wait until the warning has expired, if a tornado does in fact hit, wait to leave the area until the tornado is gone, use a cell phone to contact authorities and let them know where you are located so that they are able to help. Once everyone is out and accounted for begin to contact parents. Become familiar with what to do if you are in fact in a tornado warning and what precautions should be taken by visiting: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/to_during.shtm
Be sure that parents are aware of the tornado plan and what they can expect in the event of this emergency. Keep first aid kits, blankets, flash lights/lanterns and water in the safety area in case you are not able to leave right after the tornado passes. Be sure to stay calm and talk to the children about what is happening to try and keep the stress level down during the emergency.
A human-generated disaster that could be encountered in an early childhood setting could be an accidental shooting. A child could very well be unaware of the danger associated with guns and if parents are not locking their guns away a child could very easily place a hand held gun in their back pack to take for show and tell and could hurt or kill a fellow classmate or teacher. "As many as 80 percent of children whose families had guns knew where those guns were by the time they were in first or second grade" (Robertson, 2010. p. 113).
Being aware of gun safety is not only important but a must to gun owners and expressing concern for gun control is something that teachers of early childhood age may not think of. Doing a daily back pack check and talking with children about the danger of guns, especially in high crime areas where guns are more attainable, can decrease the chances of something happening. If a shooting does occur, immediately contact authorities and parents of the students at the facility.
References:
Robertson, c. (2010). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education 4th addition. Belmont, CA: WadsWorth.
Being aware of gun safety is not only important but a must to gun owners and expressing concern for gun control is something that teachers of early childhood age may not think of. Doing a daily back pack check and talking with children about the danger of guns, especially in high crime areas where guns are more attainable, can decrease the chances of something happening. If a shooting does occur, immediately contact authorities and parents of the students at the facility.
References:
Robertson, c. (2010). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education 4th addition. Belmont, CA: WadsWorth.
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