Did your school request a Back-to-School emergency kit or would you just feel better knowing your child had one? Use this quick guide to put it together in less than ten minutes.
What Constitutes a School Emergency?
Students may encounter emergency situations such as lockdowns, earthquakes, and…more commonly… shelter-in-place requirements while at school. They may also run into another type of emergency – the type where a bathroom accident or an unexpected period can feel like the end of the world to a child or teen.
When making your Back to School emergency kit, plan to prepare for both – true emergencies and small everyday ones.
Once you know what emergencies you’re planning for, it’s time to see what constitutes a good Back to School emergency kit.
Qualities of a Back-to-School Emergency Kit
A good back-to-school emergency kit has these five qualities:
In order to ensure that your emergency kit has these five qualities, you will need specific supplies. Read on for a complete supply list, including links.
School Emergency Kit Supply List
Your emergency kit will have the following eight supplies:
Find links for these supplies and some useful tips below:
I. Keep it Personal and Identifiable
The best emergency supplies are those you can access when you need them.
Make your emergency kit more personal and identifiable with these basic tips and supplies:
- 1 Zip lock bag: Write your child’s name on it in case it gets misplaced or needs to be stored in the classroom.
- Change of clothes: Update these items once or twice during the school year to account for the season change and growth spurts.
- Two snacks: Make sure the snacks you choose have a long shelf life and are lower in sugar and salt. Also, giving kids some snack options to choose from will increase the chances they remember the snacks are actually there.
- Hygiene kit: Include anything that is uniquely relevant to your child such as menstrual products or travel-size deodorant. Consider storing these items in a different section of your child’s backpack for more privacy or if you’re running out of space in your zip-lock bag.
- Personal note: if your child ends up needing this bag, a small note from you will make all the difference.
ll. Take advantage of the emergency supplies
Some emergency items are only sold in packs. Take advantage of the extra items to start your car or home emergency kit as well:
- 1 emergency blanket: Add your extra blankets to your family car emergency kit.
- Water pouches: Most water bottles take up space and don’t have a long shelf life. Try water pouches instead, as they are compact and store well over time. As with emergency blankets they are sold in packs and are great for storing in the car or as part of your home emergency preparedness.
- Individual wipes: These are useful for bathrooms that run out of toilet paper or for cleaning up. Add extra ones to both your home and care emergency kits.
With a short shopping list and a few minutes of packing, you’ll be done building your Back-to-School Emergency Kit. But how about building your Mom Village as well? Learn how to connect to fellow moms this school year by reading Build Your LA Mom Village With One Simple Change.