Life has a habit of throwing up misfortune when we least expect it. And as a parent, it’s something that we should all be aware of. The trouble is, can you honestly say you are ready for anything? Whether it’s your little ones injuring themselves while exploring, or a sudden breakdown of an essential piece of household equipment, every parent needs to be well prepared and know how to react. Let’s take a look at everything you can do to prepare for any household emergency.
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Rearrange your home
First of all, the best defence against accidents and emergencies at home is to keep your house in order. Slips, trips, and falls are the most common cause of injury in households, so a clean and tidy house free from clutter is essential. Sure, it can be difficult – especially when you are a busy parent. But investing in some clever storage solutions and having a home for everything from your kids’ toys to everyone's shoes can help avoid silly accidents from occurring. Also, bear in mind that children are incredibly inquisitive. Make sure that you have fireguards in place, drawer and cupboard stoppers to prevent the kids from trapping their fingers, and keep sharp and cumbersome objects well out of reach. Finally, don’t rely on the child-proof bottle tops on your kitchen cleaners and bleaches. All chemicals should be stored high, well out of the reach of your little ones.
Invest in first aid kit
First aid can save lives – it’s as simple as that. It’s worth spending big on your home first aid kit as it the sooner you treat a cut or injury, the better chance of recovery there will be. Also, consider going on a first aider’s course. There are courses up and down the country that will teach you how to deal with everything from sprains and breaks to scalds and burns.
Talk about emergency services
All of the incredible stories you hear in the news about little children ringing the emergency services on behalf of their parents are all down to one thing: parents talking to their kids about what they need to do. It’s important to discuss the emergency services with your children, make sure they know how to ring them, but also, most importantly, ensure they understand what a real emergency is. Of course, we all want to protect our kids from the harsher realities of the world. But ultimately, we won’t be able to protect them at all if us parents have a serious accident in the home and cannot reach a phone or call for help.
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Build an emergency fund
Another aspect of household emergencies to consider is the equipment and machinery that supplies energy to your home. If your boiler breaks down in the middle of winter, for example, you need it up and running as soon as possible – or the health of your kids could be at risk. It’s the same for situations like damp, which could result in spores of mould being released and inhaled – which has a nasty impact on your children’s lungs and breathing systems. There’s a huge range of other issues that can happen, too, so make sure you build what experts call an emergency fund. It’s a savings account that you contribute to every month, and will cover you for the occasional repair job or breakdown. And if you or your partner lose your job, it should also cover you for a while until you find new employment. In an ideal world, your emergency fund should be of similar value to six months of your monthly income. It’s a big target to aim at, but the sooner you start, the less impact a household breakdown or emergency will have on your finances.
Keep a good credit score
Not everyone has an emergency fund, of course. And if this is the case for you, then it’s important to know you can borrow money if the need arises. The only way banks or other lenders are going to let you borrow a penny is by having an excellent rating, so make sure you check in on your current report and fix any issues to repair your credit score. There’s a variety of things that lenders will check when it comes to a loan credit score, from your current financial status to your past ability to pay off loans. The thing to remember is, you have to be prepared to face a financial emergency, and if borrowing is what it takes to keep your family safe from harm and healthy, then maybe that’s what you need to do.
Develop a trusted network
It’s important to have people you trust that can come and help you out at a moment’s notice. Whether it’s your parents, siblings, or trusted friends and neighbours, there is a lot you can gain from having a good support network when it comes to household emergencies. What happens if one child has an accident and has to go to the hospital while another is ill and needs to stay in bed? What if you suffer from a fire or a gas leak – where will you and your family sleep? There is a multitude of household emergencies that will involve being reliant on others, so don’t isolate yourself and make friends with the locals.
Have a plan
Another big issue to discuss with your kids is the plan for what your family will do in the event of an emergency. Again, it can be tough to talk to kids about subjects like house fires or having to leave home quickly, but those chats are necessary. There’s a good reason why workplaces have fire drills and strict emergency procedures – it’s because they are proven to save lives. So, if you run through what you expect from your kids in times of strife, and perhaps have a few walkthroughs, they will know exactly what they need to do.
With a little luck, you and your kids will enjoy an emergency free life. But let’s face it, these issues happen all the time, and you need to be prepared – so do it!
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