At Papilio Early Learning, we prioritise child care emergency preparedness to ensure that every child feels safe and secure, even in unexpected situations. Emergencies like fires or severe weather, while rare, can happen at any time, and being prepared is essential. That’s why we conduct monthly fire drills and emergency safety routines to teach children what to do during an emergency and to ensure our staff are trained to handle such situations calmly and effectively.
Our beloved Safety Bear plays a key role in these drills, making them both educational and comforting for children. With Safety Bear by their side, children feel reassured as they learn essential safety skills. Let’s walk through our emergency preparedness protocols, and explore how you can continue the conversation about safety at home.
How We Conduct Fire and Emergency Drills
At Papilio Early Learning, fire and emergency drills are a regular part of our curriculum. Each month, we conduct these drills to ensure all children and staff are familiar with emergency procedures. These drills cover various potential emergencies, such as fire evacuations, lockdowns, and severe weather responses.
To make the experience engaging for young children, we introduce them to our friendly mascot, Safety Bear. During each drill, Safety Bear helps the children understand what to do in an emergency by guiding them through the steps in a calm, reassuring way. This interactive approach helps children feel more comfortable and less anxious while learning essential safety routines.
What children are taught during drills:
- Recognise the sound of the emergency alarm.
- Follow their educators calmly to the nearest exit.
- Stay in a group as they move to the designated safe assembly area.
- Participate in roll call to ensure everyone is accounted for.
By practicing these steps regularly, children become familiar with the emergency process, reducing confusion and anxiety in case an actual emergency arises.
For more information on how to prepare children for emergencies, you can visit ACECQA’s emergency preparedness guidelines.
Staff Training: Calm and Prepared in Any Situation
Our staff undergo extensive emergency preparedness training to ensure they are equipped to handle any situation with calm professionalism. This training covers:
- Fire evacuation procedures: Knowing how to quickly and safely evacuate the building.
- First aid and CPR: Providing immediate care to children if needed.
- Severe weather and lockdown protocols: Preparing for less common, but potentially dangerous situations.
- Using emergency equipment: How to use fire extinguishers and other safety tools effectively.
During drills, educators lead children out of the building to the assembly point, ensuring everyone’s safety. They also conduct headcounts to verify that all children are accounted for. Our staff are regularly trained in these procedures to maintain a high level of readiness.
How Parents Can Continue the Conversation at Home
Emergency drills are not only important in child care settings but also at home. Here are a few ways you can support your child’s understanding of emergency preparedness:
- Talk about fire safety at home: Explain to your child what to do if a fire happens at home, similar to what they practice at the centre. Emphasise the importance of staying calm and following the plan.
- Practice your own home fire drill: Just like at Papilio Early Learning, practice a fire drill at home. Identify the safest exits and create a family meeting point outside. Regular practice helps your child feel prepared.
- Reassure your child: Let your child know that while emergencies are rare, practicing helps keep everyone safe. Reassure them that their educators will always be there to guide and protect them.
- Teach important contacts: Teach your child essential emergency information, like how to call emergency services and important family phone numbers.
By reinforcing these lessons at home, your child will gain even more confidence and preparedness for emergencies.
Why Emergency Preparedness Matters
Emergencies, while unlikely, require everyone to be ready. At Papilio Early Learning, our focus on child care emergency preparedness ensures that both staff and children are equipped to handle unexpected events with calm confidence. Our engaging approach, using Safety Bear, helps children learn valuable safety lessons without fear.
Continuing the conversation at home is a great way to further support your child’s understanding of emergency safety. By practicing at home, you can help your child feel even more prepared, both at the centre and beyond.
For more information on our approach to child care safety, visit our Safety Practices page.