Children

Preparation and recovery from bushfires and disasters for children

Information to help families prepare children for bushfires and other emergencies. While it focuses on bushfires, it also covers natural disasters like storms and floods, providing the knowledge to stay safe and be prepared.

If you live in a high-risk bushfire area like the Adelaide Hills, being prepared for an emergency is crucial. Being ready helps you make smart decisions for your children when faced with danger such as storms, floods and heatwaves. Every step you take to prepare can keep you and your children safe.

Involving children in creating a disaster plan can reduce their fears and empower them.

Honest conversations about preparedness can ease their worries and equip them with essential skills to handle challenging situations. Engaging in planning also teaches them about emergencies, which is especially important for those in bushfire-prone areas like the Adelaide Hills.

Ensure you and your children know a safe place to go if there is a bushfire.

Resilience in children refers to their ability to cope with and adapt to challenges that arise from an emergency. It includes their mental, emotional, and behavioural abilities to manage difficult situations and come out feeling okay.

Free resources and tools to build personal resilience and wellbeing.

Emergencies and disasters are very stressful, and it's normal to feel overwhelmed. Children, even babies, can feel this stress too. They rely on adults for safety and comfort, and they need reassurance, care, and an opportunity to talk about their feelings.

Children who go through challenging events can recover well without ongoing problems. However, some may need professional help to cope with these challenges.

Knowing when to seek support can be difficult. Seek support if your child is struggling for more than a few months following an event and it's affecting their quality of life.

Resources to help children with the different stages of a disaster.

Preparation, resilience and recovery resources for young people and teenagers.

These useful tips have been gathered from experts online to protect you, your family, your home, and your pets. We acknowledge the time, skill and research these organisations have invested.