School Emergency Kits: What You Need to Know

Disasters and emergencies can strike anytime and anywhere. Unfortunately, even your child’s school can become an unsafe and scary environment that’s been compromised.

Although we hate to consider the possibility of any such event occurring, it’s important that every school and classroom have emergency kits that help us look after the well-being of each student. 

We live in a much different world these days. Due to the increase in natural disasters and mass-shootings over the past few decades, many schools across America have taken more detailed precautions to look after their students.

It’s your job as a parent or teacher to make sure that your school is one of them. School emergency kits are important to know about, keep reading to learn more about them! 

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School Emergency Kits

Think about it for a minute. If for whatever reason, first responders or yourself were prevented from reaching your child for a number of days, having the proper precautions in place could prove essential.

Here’s what every school emergency kit should have on hand in every classroom across America. 

The Essentials

Just like your emergency kit tucked away at home, it’s important that the school provides every student with enough food and water to last for up to 2 to 3 days.

This includes water bottles or paper cups with gallons of water stored away to drink from. There should also be plenty of medical necessities as well. This covers your child’s most basic needs. Take a look at our list of other essentials that should be present also. 

Disinfectant Wipes/Hand Sanitizer 

Bacteria and viruses can spread much more rapidly during an emergency due to the fact running water might not be an option, or that students often forget about the importance of hygiene.

Be sure that there are disinfectant wipes for surfaces and also hand sanitizer for students and teachers to keep sanitary. 

Battery Powered or Solar Flashlight

Make sure that every classroom has a battery-powered flashlight that can help not only light up dark classrooms, but also signal and warn others nearby. If the classrooms have a lot of sunshine opt for some solar ones as well. Battery Flashlights or Solar Flashlights or Lanterns

Battery Powered Radio

Outside information is crucial. A school’s staff and the classroom teacher that are informed and up to date on what is going on in the surrounding area will make better decisions on the safety of its students. Kaito Solar Radio (the plugin adapter is extra)

Teacher’s Whistle/Emergency Light Stick  

Each teacher should have a whistle during an emergency. Their voices might not be loud enough over the chaos to grab not only their student’s attention, but first responders as well. Emergency light sticks can be used for a similar reason. 

First Aid Kit 

Each first aid kit should include rubbing alcohol and antiseptic wipes. There needs to be gauze, medical tape, various sized bandages, cotton swabs, and latex gloves. If you can use some ideas on how to configure the first aid kit contents, I have a Free Printable for you.

This should take care of minor cuts, scrapes, abrasions and slow the bleeding. Each kit should also include instant cold packs that will help alleviate swelling while reducing pain at the same time.   

Blankets

Blankets can be used to make sure that students are able to stay warm and dry. If they’re not located in the classrooms, they should be located in a designated storage area. 

Duct Tape

Duct tape can be used for a number of situations, including subduing a threat or slow massive bleeding. You can even use it to help make a sling or help create a temporary privacy barrier for students. In case you missed my article on Duct Tape, here it is.

5 Gallon Bucket With Toilet Seat/Trash bags

Things can become unsanitary in a hurry with a school full of students if there’s no running water and no way to flush toilets. Be sure to have a 5-gallon bucket with a toilet seat and several trash bags on hand.

That way you can discard the waste using non-latex gloves, instead of allowing “things” to pile up. Here is my step by step instructions to make one: Emergency Toilets by Linda

 Breathing Masks

Heaven forbid that there would ever be a need for breathing masks, but ensuring that every student can breathe throughout an airborne chemical attack is important nonetheless. You need these: N-95 Masks

Photos of Each Student/With Name

Having a list of the students with photos of each student along with their names will be important if a substitute teacher is filling in for the teacher that day. Having a list that’s easy to track down could prove important for first responders as well. Photo Holders

Make A List of Students that Have Special Needs  

Every classroom should have a list of every student that has special needs or medications that are required, to help remind the teacher during such an event.

That way there are no surprises or other unnecessary medical situations that arise. It’s not just up to the school nurse to be aware of this. 

Entertainment 

There are a handful of students that do not cope well, even during a typical storm drill. Lockdowns and storms can be terrifying for little people. 

The anxiety and stress level will be extremely high in many students during an emergency, and there needs to be a way that teachers can calm them.

A teacher should have numerous card games and other activities and games that will help students take their minds off of the current situation.  

Prepare Your Child

Don’t just leave it in the hands of the school to teach your children what to do during emergency situations. You certainly don’t want to frighten your children to the point they are afraid to go to school, but you don’t want to leave them uninformed. 

This way they are able to manage their anxiety better and keep their head on straight. These are a number of things to share with your child to prepare them for an emergency situation at school.

It might not be a bad idea to quiz them on scenarios as well. They should be able to tell you what they need to do in the situation of an active shooting, hurricane, flood, tornado, fire, or other extreme situation. 

Final Word

Did you find the essentials on this list helpful in preparing for a number of emergencies? Are you aware if your child’s school has an emergency kit for each of its classrooms? This is something important that you need to find out. It’s better to be prepared than to be sorry if you didn’t ask. Maybe this is a project that the PTA could take on during the year. May God bless this world, Linda  
Back To School Backpack Survival Kit

Copyright Images:

School Bag: AdobeStock_212234547

Kids at School AdobeStock_269664288