News

July 8, 2019

10 Questions to Ask: Child Care Emergency Plan

In a recent article, Child Care Aware of America reported out that 38 percent of parents were unsure of their child care provider’s emergency plan, with another 7 percent stating that their program doesn’t have one. To ensure your child’s safety, Child Care Aware recommends that caregivers be proactive by asking their child care provider these 10 questions.

Recommended Questions

  • Do you have an emergency preparedness plan for disasters that are likely to occur in our area?
  • How will you safely evacuate my child to a safe, predetermined location?
  • How and when will I be notified if a disaster occurs when my child is in child care?
  • If I can’t get to my child during or after a disaster, how will you continue to care for my child?
  • Have you and your staff received training on how to respond to my child’s physical and emotional needs during and after a disaster; for example, are all staff first aid and CPR-certified?
  • Will you teach my older child what to do in an emergency?
  • Do you have a disaster/supply kit with enough items to meet my child’s needs for at least 72 hours?
  • Do the state and local emergency management agencies and responders know about your child care program and where it is located?
  • How may I help you during and after a disaster?
  • After a disaster occurs, how will I be notified about your plan to reopen?

More Information

For more information, visit www.childcareprepare.org.

*Information provided by Child Care Aware of America

Image: Two early childhood professional work to get a group of children into a single line, ready to move to a next location.