Official State of Rhode Island website

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Emergency Planning for Families with Kids Who Have Special Health Care Needs

Emergencies can happen anytime, but they can be even harder to manage during hurricanes, blizzards, extended power outages, or other unanticipated healthcare events. During emergencies, it can be harder to get medicine or communicate with doctors or other care team members. Emergencies are usually stressful, but having a Personal Emergency Plan can help reduce stress and keep everyone safe, especially if your child has special health needs. 

Follow these steps to help your family get ready.   

  1. Get Your House Ready. 
  • Know where your gas, water, and electricity shut offs are in your house or apartment, and learn how to use them. 
  • Make sure there are working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Change the batteries at least once a year. 
  • Make sure there are working fire extinguishers in your home, and learn how to use them. 
  • Consider alarms that use vibration or strobe lights if there are people in your home who are Blind, visually impaired, Deaf, or hard of hearing. 
  1. Make a Family Emergency Plan. 
  • Talk with your kids about emergencies in a way they understand. Use pictures or videos if that helps. 
  • Enroll in the Rhode Island Special Needs Emergency Registry. 
  • Choose a meeting spot outside your home in case you need to leave quickly and get separated from other family members. Practice your plan together, especially when you first make it or if anything changes. 
  • Pick one person that everyone can call if you do get separated. 
  • Decide how you’ll communicate with each other if your phones do not work or run out of battery. 
  • If your child uses medical equipment that needs electricity, know where the nearest fire station is, and ask utility companies to mark your home as needing extra help during outages. Ask your electric company about how you can prevent your electricity from being shut off because of unpaid bills. 
  • Include your family’s service or support animals and pets in your emergency plans.   
  • Write down any emergency phone numbers and make sure every family member has a copy to keep in their purse, wallet, or backpack. Hang the list of numbers somewhere everyone can see them. Add emergency phone numbers to each family member’s phone. 
  • Write down your home address and nearest cross street or main street and hang it in a place where caregivers can find it easily. 
  • Take a first aid and CPR class and ask your family to join you. 
  • Learn your child’s school or daycare emergency plan. Make sure teachers and babysitters know when to call 911 for your child. 
  1. Make a disaster medical care plan for your child. 
  • Talk to your child’s doctor about any physical or behavioral signs that could indicate your child might be at risk of an oncoming medical emergency. 
  • Ask your child’s primary care physician if they should wear a medical ID bracelet or necklace. A medical ID can be helpful if your child is separated from other family members or family members cannot communicate easily. 
  • Keep 2-4 weeks’ worth of medical supplies and medicines on hand. Make sure the extra medicine and supplies are in a safe and secure spot. 
  • Keep a hard copy of your child’s Care Notebook in a safe and easy-to-find location. Review the Care Notebook at least once a year, and update it if anything changes. 
  • Consider giving a trusted caregiver the legal authority to make medical decisions for your child if you can’t do it yourself. 
  • Plan how your child could safely isolate at home if there’s an infectious disease outbreak. 

  1. Make a Disaster Supply Kit 

    A disaster supply kit should include three days’ worth of essential items for each family member.  A disaster supply kit should include: 

  • Food and water for each family member (Your kit should include one gallon of water per person per day. Make sure to plan for any special dietary or nutrition needs your family members have); 
  • Batteries, instruction manuals, or spare parts for any assistive devices or technology (hearing aids, glasses); 
  • Change of clothes; 
  • Enough medicine and special supplies for your child that will last for 2-4 weeks (Ask your health insurance company if you can get coverage for a small stockpile of medicine and supplies); 
  • Flashlights, batteries, and extra chargers or power banks for your electronic devices; 
  • First aid kits for your home and car; 
  • Paper, pencils, or an emergency communication board for people who have speech-related or communication needs; 
  • Book, small toy, or comfort item for your child to reduce fear and keep them occupied; and copies of important documents (health insurance cards, list of medicines and equipment, driver’s license, Care notebook, emergency phone numbers) in a waterproof bag. 

Helpful Resources