Source
Lisa Bedford is the author of Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your
Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst Case Scenarios and editor of www.thesurvivalmom.com blog.
Some of outdoor adventurer Bear Grylls’ biggest fans are kids. Their
eyes widen at his derring-do, and boys and girls alike admire his
survival skills and savvy. But the survival skills that are more likely
to keep our kids safe and sound are actually far more mundane! Here are
four survival skills that every kid should know, along with a few tips
for parents.
What to do if lost
A lost child is a scared child, and usually their first instinct is
to begin searching for their family. Train your children to stop and sit
as soon as they realize they are lost. Assure them that, no matter how
scared they might be, you are searching for them at that very moment;
but also that, if they keep moving around, it will take longer to find
them. Consider equipping your children with an inexpensive cell phone
and when venturing outdoors, a few survival items tucked in a backpack
or their pockets. Items such as a whistle, a bright bandana and a bottle
of water are the makings of a
kids’ survival kit that will go a long way to helping them be found more quickly.
How to answer the door when home alone
Usually the best strategy is to not answer the door! Yes, the person
knocking could be a burglar scoping out the neighborhood. But once the
door is opened, it’s that much easier for an intruder to enter. And
children are easily overpowered.
Train your child to enforce home security:
Keep doors and windows locked and blinds and curtains closed. Noise
from a TV or radio is fine. Someone with questionable motives will think
twice about entering a home if they hear noises inside, even if the
house is closed up and no one answers the door.
What to do in a medical emergency
From a young age, kids can learn how to dial 911 and report an
emergency, but this takes practice. Spend some time rehearsing phone
calls, teaching your children to relay detailed information to an
operator, follow his or her instructions, and then stay on the line
until help arrives. If possible, children should also get the home ready
for the arrival of EMTs by putting pets in closed areas and, if it’s
nighttime, turning on both indoor and outdoor lights. Summer is an ideal
time for children to take first aid and CPR classes, that are typically
suitable for kids age 9 and up.
How to maintain situational awareness
When driving in the car, for instance,
ask your kids to describe a building or vehicle you just passed. Teach
them to pay attention to the route home by asking them to give you
driving directions!
This one skill can help your child avoid many dangerous situations.
The concept is simply for children to be aware of the people and events
around them. Parents can help their children become more observant and
aware—not by scaring them, but by playing games to teach and practice
this skill.
When driving in the car, for instance, ask your kids to describe a
building or vehicle you just passed. Teach them to pay attention to the
route home by asking them to give you driving directions! Tell them to
close their eyes and describe what someone in the room is wearing.
Encourage them to check out the license plates of passing cars: Which
states are they from? What is the sum of the numbers on the license
plate?
Being aware of their surroundings will help them avoid predatory
people and other dangerous scenarios. Simple to teach. Fun to practice.
And, quite possibly, a life saver.
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