What Should I Do in an Emergency?

Ages 3-5 Simple Explanation

You know how before you play a game, you learn the rules first so everything goes well? An emergency plan is like that — it is learning the rules for what to do if something scary or dangerous happens, so you already know what to do before it even happens. An emergency is when something serious goes wrong and someone needs help fast.

The most important thing to do in any emergency is to find a grown-up. Your mom, dad, teacher, or another adult you trust — they will know what to do and will keep you safe. If a grown-up tells you to do something during an emergency, like go to a certain room or walk outside, listen to them right away.

One really helpful thing you can learn is your home address — the name of your street and the number of your house. That way, if you ever need to call 911, you can tell the helper where you live so they know where to come. You can practice saying your address out loud until you remember it by heart.

After an emergency is over, it is totally normal to feel shaky or scared. That is okay! Grown-ups feel that way too. The best thing you can do is tell someone how you are feeling — give your parent a hug and talk about it. You were so brave, and the scary part is done.

Ages 6-8 More Detail

An emergency is when something serious and unexpected happens that could put people in danger — like a fire, a bad storm, a car accident, or someone getting very sick or hurt. An emergency plan is a set of steps your family or school has figured out ahead of time so everyone knows what to do if an emergency happens. Having a plan means you do not have to make decisions when you are scared — you just follow the plan.

The first thing to do in almost any emergency is to stay as calm as you can. That sounds hard, but taking a few deep breaths really does help. When you are calm, you can think more clearly and follow instructions better. Panicking makes it harder to do the right things, so even just taking one big breath before you act can make a difference.

Every kid should know how to call 911. That is the number you call when there is a real emergency and you need help from police, firefighters, or an ambulance. When you call, the person who answers will ask you what happened and where you are. Try to give your address or describe your location as clearly as you can. Stay on the phone until they tell you it is okay to hang up.

Your family should have an emergency plan for your home. This means everyone in the family knows at least two ways to get out of the house, where to meet outside, and who to call. You should also know a parent's phone number by heart. If you have a pet, your plan should include what to do with your pet too.

At school, you practice emergency plans through drills — fire drills, tornado drills, and lockdown drills. Each type of emergency has different steps. For a fire, you leave the building. For a tornado, you go to a safe spot inside. For a lockdown, you stay in your classroom with the door locked. Your teacher leads the way every time, and your job is to follow directions quickly and quietly.

It is also a good idea for your family to keep an emergency kit at home. This is a bag or box with things you might need if the power goes out or you have to leave your house quickly — water, snacks, a flashlight, batteries, a first-aid kit, and important phone numbers written down. Having the kit packed and ready means you will not have to scramble to find things during an emergency.

Ages 9-12 Full Explanation

An emergency is any situation where someone's safety or life is at risk and quick action is needed — fires, severe weather, medical crises, car accidents, or other dangerous events. What separates people who handle emergencies well from those who do not is almost always preparation. Having a plan and practicing it means that when something goes wrong, you do not freeze up or waste time — you act.

The foundation of any personal emergency plan is knowing the basics by heart: your home address, a parent's or guardian's phone number, how to call 911, and where the safe spots are in your home and school. These seem simple, but in a real emergency — when your heart is pounding and everything feels chaotic — having this information memorized is what lets you take the right steps without hesitation.

For your home, sit down with your family and map out an emergency plan. Identify two exits from every room in the house. Pick a meeting spot outside, like a specific tree or a neighbor's mailbox, where everyone goes after evacuating. Decide on an out-of-town contact person that every family member can call to check in with, since local phone lines sometimes get jammed during large emergencies. Practice your fire escape route at least twice a year.

An emergency kit is another piece of preparation that pays off when you need it. A good kit includes water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days), non-perishable food, a flashlight, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, any medications family members need, important documents in a waterproof container, phone chargers, cash, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio. Keep the kit in a spot everyone in the family knows about so you can grab it quickly.

At school, take every drill seriously — fire drills, tornado drills, lockdown drills, earthquake drills. They might feel routine or even boring after you have done them a few times, but that routine is exactly the point. When a real emergency hits, you want your body to move through the steps automatically. Students who have practiced drills many times respond faster and stay calmer than those who have not. Those extra seconds can save lives.

One final thing that matters more than people realize: staying calm. When an emergency happens, your body goes into a high-alert mode — your heart races, your breathing speeds up, and your thoughts can get jumbled. Taking a few slow, deep breaths before you act can bring your thinking back online. Look around, assess what is happening, and then follow your plan. You do not need to be a hero — you just need to be smart, stay safe, and help others do the same. That is what being prepared is really about.