I [Michaela MacRitchie] am a Red Cross instructor of 7 years, who until 4 years ago never had to use my training. When the moment came and I had to put my skills to use, it forever changed how I viewed my training classes.
How Much Responsibility Can Kids Handle in an Emergency?
Besides being an instructor, I am a mom of two little girls and a wife. My husband, Ryan, has congenital heart failure and sometimes this requires surgeries and/or different interventions. In the time Ryan and I have been married, he has gone through many procedures, many without serious complications, it has become a part of our lives that we are very well equipped to handle. In saying that, I was never one to put much stock into making a Family Emergency Action Plan. We have them at work, but that’s giving responsibilities to adults, not children. So we talked about them, but I assumed my young children would not be able to fulfill any given responsibilities in an emergency. I was wrong.
I was never one to put much stock into making a Family Emergency Action Plan…We have them at work, but that’s giving responsibilities to adults, not children. So we talked about them, but I assumed my young children would not be able to fulfill any given responsibilities in an emergency. I was wrong.
The Day that Changed Everything
Ryan had just gone through a heart Cath and it went well, besides the continuous bleeding he was experiencing at the Cath site. On one side, they had to go through an artery instead of a vein, it’s important to note that Ryan is also on blood thinners. We were in the hospital for a week after the Cath while they tried to control and stop the bleeding from the site. We were finally sent home, and he was on strict bed rest, only to get up when he had to use the restroom. Even though he listened to the instructions he was given, we had no idea what fate lay in store for us that same evening.
He got up to use the restroom and I heard him yell my name from the bathroom.
He [Ryan] got up to use the restroom and no sooner than I could pull dinner out of the oven, I heard him yell my name from the bathroom.
Thankfully, We Were More Prepared Than I Thought
I hurried to the bathroom where I found him clenching at the pressure dressing the hospital had left on his Cath site, while blood poured and gushed out from underneath it. I noticed right away that his skin was turning pale, his body was beginning to shake, and I was not going to be able to control the amount of blood he was losing.
Our family had an Emergency Action Plan, a few of them. One was the following: If Mom or Dad ever yells for you to call 9-1-1, use the closest phone you can find, dial 9-1-1, put the phone on speaker, and bring it to one of us.
Our family had an Emergency Action Plan, a few of them. One was the following: If Mom or Dad ever yells for you to call 9-1-1, use the closest phone you can find, dial 9-1-1, put the phone on speaker, and bring it to one of us.
When the Plan Pays Off
I acted on our plan and yelled for my oldest daughter, Ryleigh, to call 9-1-1 as I sat Ryan down and began holding pressure on the site. Ryleigh was in the bathroom with my phone connected to 9-1-1 and on the speaker setting within seconds. She then gathered her younger sister, Katelynn, and they waited in the living room to watch for EMS.
I never thought my kids would be able to remain calm and perform calculated tasks in the event of an emergency, yet I am thankful that we had a plan in place.
Today, I tell this story to all of my classes to pass along the message of not only knowing how to properly care for someone in an emergency but the importance of having a plan and not counting the little ones out!
Creating a Plan
If you don’t yet have a family emergency plan established, see these simple tips below to help you get started.
- Start by identifying possible emergencies in the home.
- Openly discuss emergencies and actions together – make time for everyone to ask questions.
- Assign responsibilities to each family member
- Establish meeting points – in case of evacuation or a sudden emergency
- Establish means of communication
- Consider creating a network with your neighbors, friends, and family – Who can help?
- Finalize your plan (write it down) and discuss it – make sure everyone is on the same page.
- Practice it!
Resources to Keep on Hand:
- Keep your first aid kit stocked- remove expired items – Make sure everyone knows where it is
- Make sure everyone in the home has access to a phone – if you don’t have a landline, keep cellphones out – share passcodes
- Post emergency contacts on the refrigerator – keep it updated
About the Author
Michaela MacRitchie, CSP is a certified Health and Safety Consultant for Cardinal Compliance Consultants, daughter of owners Rich and Heidi Barcum. Among a variety of classes, she also teaches our Adult First Aid/CPR/AED – Blended Learning classes.
Do You Have an Emergency Family Plan Established?
Is your family prepared for an unexpected fire, first aid response, or intruder with an established emergency plan? Contact us to attend our next Adult First Aid/CPR/AED class.