Having driven through the tornado destruction in North Carolina, I was reminded that my family does not have an emergency plan. I wonder if all my host families have an emergency plan with their au pair. These effective strategies will help you and your au pair prepare for the most common types of emergencies.
1. Program clearly marked emergency numbers into every cell phone in your family’s speed dial. Include the cell phone of your au pair as well.
2. Set up two meeting places for your au pair and everyone in your family: one near your house in case of a sudden emergency such as a fire or home invasion, and another outside the neighborhood, such as a school or friend’s house, in case you can’t get home. Make sure your au pair knows about both locations. Also designate on family ember to make decisions for the whole group during a crisis, including where to meet and what to do in case pans must change.
3. Designate an out of town relative or friend as your contact and the contact for your au pair in the event tat local phone service is interrupted. Family members and your au pair should phone in as soon as possible.
4. Discuss, locate, and prepare priority items such as photos and documents to save. Have your will, insurance paperwork, and all legal documents in good order.
5. Prepare a backpack for each family member with extra clothing, shoes jackets, medications, diapers, and wipes for babies, insurance, and medical information. Include a laminated picture of the entire family with names and numbers. Keep them in a chest by the front door, in a hall closet, or in the trunk of your car.
6. Keep an emergency kit, including first aid supplies, in each car.
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