Montessori Funtime
38 Water Lily
Irvine, CA 92606
949-333-3114

www.montessorifuntime.com

montessorifuntime@gmail.com

~ EMERGENCY INFORMATION ~

 

Major emergencies:

 

Earthquakes and power failures can cause disruptions for schools and families. During these difficult times, Montessori Funtime will do all it can to communicate vital information to parents and students. We follow the same guidelines that the Irvine Unified School District follows for emergency situations. Our top priority is the safety of students. When emergency conditions result in IUSD school schedule changes, we follow the district recommendations and make our preschool schedule changes accordingly. Be sure to stay in tune with the brief IUSD notifications you will hear over radio and television.

 

City of Irvine has provided us with emergency kit after going through disaster preparedness training. The kit is always available to staff in the preschool area. There is a fire-extinguisher and a panic alarm within staff’s reach at all times. The cabinets in the facility that children should not be able to reach are child-proof. Staff has been trained in First Aid and CPR. Earthquake and fire drills happen at regular intervals to keep everyone prepared.

 

Minor emergencies:

 

For minor emergencies, we keep a record of each child’s medical needs and medical care provider’s contact details. In compliance with the local legal regulations we do not administer any medication, but contact the parents immediately and have them recommend arrangements for providing the child with prompt medical care.

 

Emergency education:

 

Knowing how to teach preschool kids first aid for emergencies is crucial. We teach children the 3 basic skills every preschooler should know - name, address, and phone number. Preschool children need to understand what to do in crises; fundamental first-aid skills prepare them to deal with emergencies.

 

  1. How to dial 911: Would your preschool toddlers understand what to do in an emergency or where to call for help? Can preschool kids understand the basics of first-aid? Give them a child’s doctor kit and see how much they know about boo-boos, fevers, and other urgent situations. We understand how to teach preschool kids first-aid for emergencies with three basic skills, and it is a big comfort to parents, teachers, and other adults. Coaching preschool children in primary emergency first-aid skills provides them with valuable life skills to handle crises, and minimizes their stress in such situations. We use play telephones or disconnected cell phones for pretend play props for instructing preschool kids how to dial 911 or where to call for help in your community. Let them practice making calls and telling who they are, and where they live. We role play calls from contrasting emergency situation angles: leting them be the caller and our staff the 911 dispatcher, we play the caller and let them be emergency personnel, we pretend we are unconscious and they must call with no assistance, we pretend we are conscious and help them make the call, and so forth. Empowering them to be composed and calm in an emergency is the goal, and using a preschooler’s love of pretend play is a stress-free way to teach basic emergency response techniques.
  2. Want to N-A-P (Name, Address, Phone)? We use an acronym N-A-P - to teach your children three vital pieces of information: name, address, and phone number. This is a fun game - they never realize they are learning emergency preparedness. If you ask preschool kids if they want to learn their name, address, and phone number, be ready for a quick “no”. We ask them if they want to practice N-A-P (we do not say “nap”, kids do not want to practice napping). A preschooler’s inquisitiveness triggers them to ask questions about N-A-P and provides the teachable moment.
  3. I have fallen and can’t get up: We ask preschool kids what they would do if we fainted – we make sure they understand the word “fainted” – and teach them easy-to-understand reaction steps.
  • If I faint (fall down) or if you cannot wake me, use the telephone to dial 911.
  • Follow the adult's instructions. This information about obeying trusted adults is important if you have taught preschool kids not to talk to strangers but have not emphasized the difference between talking to trusted adults and avoiding untrustworthy adults.
  • Stay with me until help arrives

The goal is to prepare, not frighten, preschool kids for dealing with emergencies and accidents. While they may never need this information, it is comforting to know that if an emergency happens, they are prepared. On the other hand, knowing how to teaach kids first-aid for emergencies is a stress-reducer for parents, teacher, and other primary caregivers.

 

Family Emergency Plan:

 

We encourage each family to have a plan covering what to do when children arrive home early due to an emergency situation. Situations which should are covered include:

  • Are the students prepared with adequate warm clothing, nourishment and toys?
  • Where could they go if they needed help?
  • Who would care for him or her until you arrive?
  • Is there someone your child could call to allay fears?