The most common disaster that occurs in West Virginia is flooding according to FEMA. Flooding occurs at least once a year in our area and has been responsible for damaging homes and taking lives. In the early childhood setting it is important to understand the dangers of rising waters and how fast one can be trapped and even swept away by the fast moving water. A professional should have a plan mapped out to get the children to higher ground if their parents cannot be reached in time. The professionals should require emergency contact list in the event there is a disaster and they should have a first aid kit that is up to date and having flotation devices in areas that is prone to flooding. To assess the situation for risk I would look at the geographical area to see if the facility is low and near water such as a lake or a river (Robertson, 2010). I would look for areas around the property that pose a risk or provide a place for protection such as higher ground. I would make sure I had a cell phone and had all the cell phone numbers of the children’s parents. Do they children in my care have any disabilities or are they able to walk.
Another risk in our area is severe storms that can cause damage due to high winds. In the event of a storm I would have a plan that I have went over with the children of the safe areas to be in the building. Children should be away from windows and if possible move to a basement or room in the middle of the building without windows. I would assess the area for potential risks such as power lines or trees that could fall on the facility. I would make sure there is a first aid kit that is up to date and a fire extinguisher in case lightening would cause the building to catch on fire. The plan of action would include an evacuation route that the children would be taught and have practiced during drills to prepare for an emergency.
In the case there is an emergency it is better to be prepared so you have the supplies that you might need and it will also help the employees to feel less panicked if they know what to do. The children will be looking to the adults and will respond to their reactions and if the adults look like they are confident and have things under control this will help the children to feel less anxious and scared. If you are not prepared it would be a chaotic mess and the workers and children would all be panicked and stressed and could lead to injuries or death because no one knew what to do to keep everyone safe.
References
FEMA. (2010). West Virginia Disaster History. Retreived September 19, 2010 from
Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early Education (4th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
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