Emergency Kit for Kids to Bring Them Comfort

by Tonya Staab
Published: Last Updated on

This emergency kit for kids will provide comfort to them if they are involved in an emergency at school, with a babysitter, or in hospital.

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my role as Community Leader in the Horizon Healthy Families Back to School Community.

Recently, the twins’ teacher sent home a note asking us to prepare an emergency comfort kit for our children. These kits are placed in a large barrel in each classroom and used in the event that there is an emergency at the school. I thought this was such a fabulous idea that I wanted to share it with you, especially in the wake of numerous tornadoes, hurricanes, emergency lockdowns in schools, and earthquakes.

Emergency kit for kids

This is the little man’s kit. Miss M has one that is very similar.

An emergency kit for kids to bring them comfort at school or a babysitter when in an emergency situation.
Emergency kit for kids for school and babysitters.

Contents of emergency kit

  • Family photograph
  • Travel game
  • Book
  • Emergency contact card: allergies, medications, Dr’s number, our phone numbers
  • Wipes
  • Water bottle
  • Granola Bar
  • Notepad with pencil and crayons
  • Letter from parents

They suggested using a 1-gallon clear zip-lock bag for these, however, I used some clear zipped bags that had once contained body wash and lotions.

An emergency comfort kit for kids to be kept at school or a babysitter’s house.

Hospital emergency kit for kids

If you did not see my other post, the little man was attacked by a dog 2 weeks ago. It pulled him over our fence while he was talking to the little girl who lives next door and mauled him. He had claw marks across the side of his head, down his back, a graze across his stomach from the fence, a large scrape on one leg, and his arm had been bitten quite severely. 

This happened during a blackout. The local fire crew was the closest to us so within a few minutes they had secured the bite and drove us to the emergency room in the fire truck. The hospital was without power and was using backup generators to help critical patients and those on respirators. They were unable to operate on Flynn that evening and after 5 hours in the hospital, we went home to sleep while we waited for the power to come back. Thankfully by 6 am, we were able to meet with the plastic surgeon. He needed to have a few stitches in his head and have his arm stitched together (the bites were over halfway around his arm and required stitching inside as well as externally).

In the chaos of calling 911 and getting to the emergency room, I didn’t have time to pack up a kit of things to entertain Flynn at the hospital while we waited. I wish I had a small kit that I could just grab as I ran out the door. This is what I have now gathered for a hospital kit:

  • Travel Game
  • Book
  • Change of clothes
  • Notepad with crayons and pencil
  • Coloring book
  • Snack
  • Water
  • Tissues (travel pack)
  • Wipes
  • Comfort toy

Let me explain why I suggest some of these items.

Change of clothes

The fireman had to cut Flynn’s Shirt, he was covered in blood and missing a shoe when we got to the hospital. That is how he then had to leave the hospital and spend his five hours there. Seeing all of the blood upset him. I wished I had a change of clothes for him so he did not have to see that.

Activities

During the blackout, we also had no cell phone reception and could not charge phones, this meant that Flynn couldn’t even play games on my phone because I needed to conserve the battery in the event the power returned and I could make calls. He also couldn’t talk to other family members. To say that he was bored and needed distraction is an understatement.

Tissues and wipes

As you can imagine there were a lot of tears shed, he was also covered in dirt so to have been able to clean him up a little would have been wonderful.

Power outage kit for the home

For a few years, I have kept a power outage kit stocked at home. This kit contains:

  • Flashlight (for each family member)
  • Candles
  • Batteries
  • Portable DVD player with a spare battery (that is charged) & DVD’s
  • Lighter
  • Lightsticks (for the kids)

Check out my other posts for even more ideas too:

Please pin this post for later:

emergency kit for kids Pinterest image

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13 comments

Katherine marie September 20, 2011 - 10:22 am

I am so terribly sorry to hear about your little guy! I pray he is recovering quickly and smoothly. That must have been beyond terrrifying… I can’t even imagine the trauma you have all been through. I love your baggie ideas. We have lots of grab and go bags… So handy! I am going to add some of your ideas!

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Tonya Staab September 20, 2011 - 10:37 am

Thank you, he is healing nicely but it will be a while before his arm is healed completely.   Thankfully he has no loss of movement though, but is restricted with what he can do as he has already opened up the external stitches once and has since had to have a small section of the wound glued back together.

I want to make some grab and go travel bags too for in the car.  Once the emergency room kit is finished I think that will be next on my list.

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Danielle September 20, 2011 - 9:29 am

What a genius idea! I’m going to make a few too. I hope your son recovers quickly. That must have been such a scary event for both him and you!

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Beccabernstein September 20, 2011 - 9:30 am

This is so smart. I need to really start preparing for life’s unpreparables. Thanks for the smart tips!

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Kelly September 20, 2011 - 11:08 am

I’m so sorry about your son being attacked-I’m sure it was scary but I’m glad he’s recovering. LOVE the idea of these little kits (and those are my fave face wipes BTW!), and will definitely be putting some together shortly.

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Wendy September 20, 2011 - 11:09 pm

Tonya — that must have been so scary for your son and your family! I’m glad to hear he is doing better now.

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Valerie Stayton September 21, 2011 - 8:17 am

What a nightmare you went through. I can’t even imagine that. :-( I do have one suggestion for your kit. Laminate your picture. It will lasts A LOT longer. <3

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Amanda September 21, 2011 - 11:02 am

Oh my gosh Tonya! I am so sorry to hear about this! I hope he is feeling better.

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Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell September 21, 2011 - 1:43 pm

Tonya, that is such a nightmare! I am so very sorry that this happened, but in the big picture, I’m also extraordinarily grateful that it wasn’t worse.

Your kit ideas are wonderful, and I think including light sticks in your power outage kit is genius!

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Tonya Staab September 21, 2011 - 11:33 pm

He is feeling much better, thank you Amanda.  He can finally remove his bandages and take a decent shower this weekend – just in time for his birthday. 

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Tonya Staab September 21, 2011 - 11:34 pm

Thank you Wendy

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Barbara Manatee September 22, 2011 - 6:30 pm

wow! what a great idea for the kits…but omg…how scary for Flynn to have been attacked!! I’m glad to hear he is getting better. Is he scared of dogs now??

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Angela Quisumbing April 5, 2013 - 12:16 pm

What a great idea! I love this! Great for multiple emergencies.

Reply

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