How can you prepare your loved ones for an evacuation?
Why is this essential?
One of the biggest challenges in an emergency situation is making sure that your loved ones – children, elderly parents, or close friends – are as prepared as you are. An evacuation can be a source of stress and disorientation. By including them in your plan, you reinforce everyone’s safety.
The initial conversation: Keeping it simple
Emergency evacuation is a serious subject, but there’s no need to approach it in an alarmist way. Choose a calm moment and approach it as a discussion about safety, not fear.
The right approach: “What if we prepared like it was a game? We could organize our Evakit backpack and make a plan for unexpected events. That will help us be ready for anything!”
The rallying point: A place to meet
One of the most important things is to define one or more clear rallying points. This is where the whole family should meet if you become separated. Everything is explained in your family evacuation plan, a document available in your account, under “My downloads”.
Point n°1 (close) : Choose an easily accessible location, less than a few minutes’ walk from your home. This could be a neighbor’s house, a park, or a public square.
Point n°2 (far) : If the situation prevents you from accessing the first location, a second one is crucial. It can be outside of your neighborhood or even in another city, for a more serious situation.
For children, turn learning into a game. Draw a map of your neighborhood and mark the rallying point with an “X” like a treasure.
The Evakit emergency bag: A tool, not a fear
Explain to your loved ones that the Evakit bag is not an object that signals imminent danger, but rather a safety kit, like a first-aid kit.
For children: Let them make the bag their own. The idea is for them to know where it is, and to be able to add something that reassures them: a cuddly toy, a photo, or a little game.
For the elderly: Make sure they understand the contents of the bag and what is essential (medication, identity papers, etc.). If they live far away, offer them their own bag or duplicate the essentials in an easily accessible place.
The communication plan: Staying in touch
In an emergency, telephone networks can be saturated. Having a plan B is vital.
The single emergency contact: Designate a person outside the danger zone (a friend or distant family member) as the “emergency contact”. In the event of separation, each family member should call this person to report that he or she is safe. This avoids trying to reach several people at once.
Pre-defined messages: Set up short, clear phrases to indicate your status. For example, “I’m at rally point 1” or “Everything’s fine”.
Practice: Stress-free rehearsal
The best way to make sure your loved ones are ready is to practice, playfully and regularly.
Rally exercise: From time to time, pretend you’re in an emergency situation and ask everyone to go to the designated rally point.
Bag simulation: Ask your loved ones to take the bag and make sure they’re ready to go in just a few minutes.
IN SUMMARY:
By preparing your loved ones, you’re not just giving them tools, you’re giving them confidence. When the day comes, they won’t be caught off guard, but will be part of the solution, because they’ll have the plan, the Evakit bag, and the right reflexes to act.
Preparedness, like your Evakit, is an integral part of your serenity.
