Preparedness Information for Child Care Providers
In an emergency, thorough preparation is key to an effective response. Missouri’s child care providers, large and small, licensed or non-licensed, need to be prepared for any type of emergency. Ready in 3 outlines steps you can take now to prepare your facilities, staff and the individuals in your care.
The Family Safety: Three Steps to be Prepared page provides detailed information on the three steps in preparing in advance of any emergency. Ready in 3: Planning for Emergencies materials are available electronically for your staff and families you serve today! See the Ready in 3 Materials page to view and/or download relevant videos, checklists or factsheets.
Child Care Administrators / Managers
Having a plan for responding to emergencies is important for everyone. We encourage you to use the Family Safety Guide’s emergency kit checklist to stock emergency kits for each of your classrooms.
Please consider distributing information regarding the Family Safety Guides to the families you serve, when you conduct tornado and fire drills and when new families enroll with your facility. We hope you will use the Ready in 3 information, as a step-by-step guide to preparing for emergencies along with educating your staff and utilizing activities for educating children in your care.
Child care providers can use the youth activities on the Ready in 3 Kids page to help children learn about preparing for emergencies. Activities are available for all ages.
Parents
Many child care providers have their own emergency plans. Your child care providers should have current contact information for you and another family member. Make sure that the home, work, and cellular telephone numbers they have for you are up-to-date.
It’s important to ask your child care provider how they will contact you if there is an emergency. You should also know what steps will be taken to protect the children. Some questions you might consider asking include:
- How will you reach me if there’s an emergency?
- Do you practice fire, earthquake, tornado and terrorism drills on a routine basis?
- Is there enough water and food stored at the day care for all the children?
- What first-aid supplies are at the facility?
- Are the care givers and administrators prepared to shelter in place?
- Do you have a plan to separate those students who may have been exposed to chemicals, bacteria, or viruses from others?
- Where will the children be taken if they must evacuate the facility?