Any Kids in Your Family?

Today's entry is going to be a little different. I stumbled across a link at the bottom of a news article referencing survival skills every kid should know. That story follows. But first a couple comments:

In 2009 I had the pleasure of attending Dirt Time. One of the sessions was led by trackers who provided what I believe to be the best tip ever for parents.Since so many kids all seem to wear the same brand shoe, it is often challenging to pick your child's prints out of a group if they need to be found. Trackers sometimes find themselves tracking the wrong prints! The solution is simple -- cut a small chunk out of one lug of the sole. This will make your child's print totally unique. Then, take a photo of the shoe sole with your smart phone and keep it on there. If your child is ever lost and professional help arrives, show them the photo and point out the unique identifier. This simple step can save considerable time in locating your child. AND, why not do the same to YOUR outdoor shoes? It can be just as helpful if you get lost!

Now for the article. It was from a site called The Survival Mom. A link is at the end of the article. The initial tips when lost and concept that every kid should have their own emergency kit is exactly on track. Plus, the ending tip about situational awareness is something I have never seen addressed for kids. Yes, we all complain that kids seem to spend their life consumed in the video games and phone apps. Truth be, most parents encourage that as a way of quieting the commute. Time to put away the electronics and turn situational awareness into a family game.

FYI, I went to The Survival Mom site with the intent of providing a direct link to this article. I got so sidetracked reading other articles I stumbled across on her site that I never got to this article, so I will just paste it here and you can follow the link at the bottom to explore her site further.

The 4 Survival Skills Every Kid Should Know

Tuesday, June, 26th, 2012 at 9:25 am

Some of outdoor adventurer Bear Grylls’ biggest fans are kids. Their eyes widen at his derring-do, and boys and girls alike admire his survival skills and savvy. But the survival skills that are more likely to keep our kids safe and sound are actually far more mundane! Here are four survival skills that every kid should know, along with a few tips for parents.

What to do if lost

A lost child is a scared child, and usually their first instinct is to begin searching for their family. Train your children to stop and sit as soon as they realize they are lost. Assure them that, no matter how scared they might be, you are searching for them at that very moment; but also that, if they keep moving around, it will take longer to find them. Consider equipping your children with an inexpensive cell phone and when venturing outdoors, a few survival items tucked in a backpack or their pockets. Items such as a whistle, a bright bandana and a bottle of water are the makings of a kids’ survival kit that will go a long way to helping them be found more quickly.

How to answer the door when home alone

Usually the best strategy is to not answer the door! Yes, the person knocking could be a burglar scoping out the neighborhood. But once the door is opened, it’s that much easier for an intruder to enter. And children are easily overpowered. Train your child to enforce home security: Keep doors and windows locked and blinds and curtains closed. Noise from a TV or radio is fine. Someone with questionable motives will think twice about entering a home if they hear noises inside, even if the house is closed up and no one answers the door.

What to do in a medical emergency

From a young age, kids can learn how to dial 911 and report an emergency, but this takes practice. Spend some time rehearsing phone calls, teaching your children to relay detailed information to an operator, follow his or her instructions, and then stay on the line until help arrives. If possible, children should also get the home ready for the arrival of EMTs by putting pets in closed areas and, if it’s nighttime, turning on both indoor and outdoor lights. Summer is an ideal time for children to take first aid and CPR classes, that are typically suitable for kids age 9 and up.

How to maintain situational awareness

When driving in the car, for instance, ask your kids to describe a building or vehicle you just passed. Teach them to pay attention to the route home by asking them to give you driving directions!

This one skill can help your child avoid many dangerous situations. The concept is simply for children to be aware of the people and events around them. Parents can help their children become more observant and aware—not by scaring them, but by playing games to teach and practice this skill.

When driving in the car, for instance, ask your kids to describe a building or vehicle you just passed. Teach them to pay attention to the route home by asking them to give you driving directions! Tell them to close their eyes and describe what someone in the room is wearing. Encourage them to check out the license plates of passing cars: Which states are they from? What is the sum of the numbers on the license plate?

Being aware of their surroundings will help them avoid predatory people and other dangerous scenarios. Simple to teach. Fun to practice. And, quite possibly, a life saver.

Lisa Bedford is the author of Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst Case Scenarios and editor of www.thesurvivalmom.com blog.