Describe each of the disaster scenarios you have chosen (such as a hurricane that has quickly developed in your area) and a real or hypothetical early childhood setting (such as a Head Start program housed on a university campus near the coast). What are the main dangers posed by these situations? Who is at risk?
Explain why you and your colleagues should be prepared. What are the consequences of not being prepared?
Summarize the appropriate steps you would take to develop a plan in advance for this disaster and how you would deal with it if it occurs.
Be sure to:
Explain how you would assess the risks.
Identify potential complications created by this disaster besides the main disaster/danger itself.
Describe any other steps you and/or your early childhood program should take to be prepared to handle this kind of crisis. What kinds of materials or documentation (e.g., first aid supplies, family emergency contact information, and so on) would be necessary and/or helpful?
Explain how you might involve the families of the children in your care.
This week, you will submit the second section of your course project for your Instructor to review.
Submit this assignment by Day 7 of this week.
For this assignment, I have chosen the early childhood setting as the childcare center I currently work at which cares for children ages infant to preschool (age 5). Classrooms are set up so that the age groups are divided and staffed with the appropriate number per children.
The first disaster scenario I choose would be an armed intruder in the building. After the Sandy Hook event recently, schools all over the country began practicing the “armed intruder” drill which is why I choose it. In this scenario, it is important to stay calm and quiet. The best scenario is to get the children out of the building as safely as possible. In the childcare center I work at, there are two exits from each classroom. One is into the main hallway and the other door exits to the outside playground area. If you can, children and teachers need to safely exit out of the outside doors and leave the premises. When we have evacuation drills, we are to report to the fire station across the street. If for some reason, exits are blocked, then everyone is to stay away from doors or windows, preferably hiding in a closet with a door.
The second disaster scenario I choose for this assignment is an unexpected earthquake. I choose this scenario because we actually encountered it a few years ago after never practicing for one. It was the middle of nap time, all children sleeping, and the building began to shake. I live in an area where we do not get earthquakes often, especially not ones in which cause any sort of impact. For earthquake drills when children are awake, you are supposed to stand in door ways to protect yourself from falling debris. It was hard for me to make the call n what to do when the children were sleeping, because waking them all to move them was going to cause even more commotion and chaos. Luckily, the earthquake we encountered was not a big one which caused any danger.
It is important to have a first aid kit as well as emergency contact numbers and information that can be easily grabbed during the departure of your classroom. It is important that, if possible, you take necessary items with you so that you have them to contact parents or important personal. Taking a first aide it along with any necessary medications is also important in case you need these supplies.
All disaster scenarios have their complications that may arise. In either of these situations arise, it may be hard to evacuate the building or get to a secure area because of the situation. Other complications that may arise include lack of children cooperation due to panicking or not listening.
Involving the families in your disaster scenario plans is always a good idea. It helps you as the educator to know what the children have encountered and what they practice at home. It also is a god idea to let the parents know what your plans are in case the scenario does arise, the parents know their child(ren) is safe and taken care of, as well as know when and where they will be able to pick them up from.
Although I hope to never have to encounter any sort of disaster scenarios, I know that it is not realistic to expect. So I am glad that I am prepared and that I have been given the time to take classes to prepare me for any situation I may encounter.
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