Preparing your family for Bush Fires
Dealing with a disaster can be a stressful experience for anyone. Plan and prepare your family for bush fires. You need to know what you will do if your property is affected by fire.
- Do you have a fire plan? Sit down with your family and discuss what you will do using the Rural Fire Service guide to making a bush fire survival plan.
- What will you do with your animals? Make a Farm Fire Plan.
- Do your kids know what to do?
Children are particularly vulnerable, and the increased media coverage and discussion in the community, schools and at home about fires can raise their alarm. Planning for and talking to your children about bushfires can help them cope and feel safe should you or your home come under threat this summer.
More help is available right in your local community in a Get Ready Team. Get Ready Teams are led by the community for the local community, and provide a way for residents to support each other and improve capacity for disaster resilience.
Things you should know during a bushfire
Preparing children for the threat of bushfires
These information sheets have been produced by the Australian Psychology Society.
This first information sheet helps parents and carers to help children to be aware of the threats, but also reassure them that they are safe and secure.
View information sheet
This second information sheet provides ways of assisting parents and carers to help children psychologically prepare for bushfires. It outlines three steps to become psychologically prepared.
Once you have learnt how to be psychologically prepared yourself, you can help children to learn the skills too.
View information sheet