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Most families do not expect emergencies at home and fail to discuss with children how to react if such situations occur. Therefore, if an emergency does occur, children are exceptionally confused as to how they should respond. Often in an effort to do what they believe to be the right thing, they needlessly put themselves in life-threatening situations.
It is understandably hard for children to stand in front of burning home and not feel they should be reentering in an effort to rescue their siblings or parents, who may have already escaped by a rear entrance. Additionally, when flames are minimal, children are often unaware of the deadly hazards of toxic smoke and fumes.
By the same token, parents may attempt to return to a burning home in an effort to rescue a child who has already escaped. Like businesses, families should develop contingency plans to enact during emergencies--not just fires, but other events such as home invasions. These plans need not be elaborate, but should include alternate escape routes and communications.
A primary consideration is establishing a clear cut gathering point outside the home, to eliminate the possibility of incorrect assumptions that a family member has not escaped. One important consideration to remember is that children are used to being told to do one thing, doing it precisely, then being told by us imperfect adults, "Well maybe that's what I said, but it's not what I meant."
Therefore, it's natural for children to evaluate what they have been told to do, then possibly alter their response if they feel the situation is at all unclear. The best thing to do to eliminate this risk is to be clear enough that you leave no room for question. For instance, if neighbor Mickey's house is the designated location for the family to go in the event of an emergency, the children should be told, "No matter what else is going on, go to Mickey's house and wait. If you do that, you will never be wrong!"
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