- Explain the risks each emergency poses, or, “What can actually harm me?”, such as scattering of explosives, shock wave injury, injury due to shrapnel, building collapse, etc. The very young do not necessarily make the connection between an earthquake and the risks they face as a result.
- Detail the factors that increase the risk. Separate objective factors (such as playing with matches that might lead to a fire) from subjective ones (such as those that raise the risk of threats stemming from war, natural disasters, etc.).
- Give family members the tools to identify all states of emergency (moving furniture, the feeling you’re on a ship=an earthquake; a loud boom=a missile; a burnt smell, sudden heat=a fire somewhere in the home). While still on this point, detail the various types of alarms (siren, a “color red” alert in relevant areas, local or institutional announcement systems, and even the sirens of emergency response vehicles).
- Talk to family members about the automatic order of actions that must be done for each state of emergency as identified by indicators in the surroundings or by an alert. Teach family members how to act. Try to simplify by using the six “BE SAFE” directives that are valid in every type of emergency:
1. Bring help by informing the relevant emergency response team or an adult as soon as possible.
2. Electric and gas supply: Shut off main lines to prevent spread and ignition.
3. Secure yourself: Move into a secure area according to the type of event (entering the Residential Secure Space–MAMAD, exiting a structure on fire).
4. Add as many layers of separation/division between you and the threat to isolate yourself, by closing doors and windows of the secure space, by closing the door in the direction the fire/flood is coming from.
5. ShiFt position: Sit on the floor with your back to an interior wall (rocket fire), climb as high as possible, etc.
6. Use your Ears: It is always recommended to listen to directions of security forces in the area or over the media.