Vital Reasons Why Parents Should Be Teaching Disaster Preparedness
Calamities have battered the Philippines through the years. We must learn from these mistakes and take disaster preparedness seriously as it can save our families and children.
We don’t have to keep repeating that the Philippines has been in the center of typhoons and other natural calamities through the years. From earthquakes to super storms, it seems the country has experienced everything. Thanks to the Sierra Madre Mountains, Metro Manila and parts of Luzon were spared from the monstrous effect of Typhoon Karding, which initially became a Super Typhoon when it landed in Aurora and Quezon. Climate Change may be a factor in all of these. But apart from climate change, parents should also be teaching their kids the importance of disaster preparedness. While calamities may happen anytime, it’s not too late to educate your children because lives are at stake.
Disaster preparedness teaches them to be serious about issues
We allow our kids to play and enjoy being kids. But when it comes to things that will affect them, we must be serious in teaching them. Teaching them disaster preparedness allows them to see the seriousness of the situation. They will know it’s not just fun and games.
Talk to them about how typhoons affect farmers’ crops and fisherfolk who cannot go to the sea. If the crops are destroyed, then those who rely on the farmers will go hungry. Our food supply depends on them.
It teaches them the importance of Mother Nature
We all know the effects of the aftermath of a superstorm or typhoon. It’s not just humans badly affected but nature as a whole. We tell them to throw their garbage in trash bins and take care of animals but we must explain to them why it’s important now more than ever.
As cliche as it may be from the song, “The Greatest Love of All,” the children are our future. To borrow one principle from the 7 Nature Principles, nature is beautiful and we are the stewards of God’s creation.
Disaster preparedness allows kids to be on alert
In relation to being serious about issues, teaching kids about disaster preparedness allows them to be alert for anything that can harm them. If we often tell them not to talk to strangers, then teaching them about the importance of storms, earthquakes, and typhoons will educate them on why it’s important to pack things and evacuate to shelters.
Disaster preparedness saves lives
Being prepared for any calamity saves lives. Not just that of our kids but those from our community. If you have a chance to participate in seminars on disaster awareness, go for it. The basics of first aid and reading thermometers are a big help already.
Don’t wait for a disaster to strike
Now more than ever, it’s very important to be prepared and to be on alert. We don’t need another calamity for us to wake up and do action. By teaching children disaster preparedness, we are already doing something and that is to save as many lives as possible.
Want to learn the basics? Check these out!
LIST: Numbers and Foundations You Can Check During Typhoon Karding
