Whether you’re new to the field or an experienced veteran, no one wants to think about an emergency situation. But, as a business owner or director, you’re tasked with guiding your staff and those in your care through whatever is thrown at you—by mother nature, or otherwise.
Recent research by Kendall Leser, Julie Looper-Coats, and Andrew Roszak finds that out of a sample of more than 600 child-care administrators nationwide, only 20 percent reported preparedness as a high-level priority for their child-care business.
While preparing for the unexpected may not be at the top of your list, paying more attention to emergency planning will help you, your staff and the families you serve feel that much more safe and secure.
That’s why Andrew Roszak, JD, MPA, EMT-P developed the Preparing for the Unexpected series. In the two books in this series, Roszak shares key tools and strategies to help early childhood professionals empower themselves to address difficult and threatening situations—from natural disasters to pandemics to active shooters.
Preschool Preparedness for an Active Shooter prepares and empowers readers to manage life-threatening situations, while providing tools to teach children disaster preparedness for the first time. It features easy-to-follow advice, real-world evidence, proven tactics, and strategies for responding to an active-shooter incident.
Preschool Preparedness for an Emergency (coming December 2020) features expert advice for educational leaders to review their emergency plans and evaluate what they need to do to update their emergency preparedness. It includes an approachable guide to facing seemingly impossible situations, with easy-to- understand language, expert guidance and real-life examples.
As Roszak often says, “Don’t be scared, be prepared.”
Find more strategies and guidance to prepare yourself and your staff for an emergency scenario in Preschool Preparedness for an Active Shooter and Preschool Preparedness for an Emergency (coming December 2020).
About the Author
Andrew Roszak, JD, MPA, EMT-P, author of Preschool Preparedness for an Active Shooter, serves as the Executive Director at the Institute for Childhood Preparedness, an organization that works to enhance emergency preparedness, response, and recovery for early childhood professionals. Previously, he served as the Senior Director for Emergency Preparedness at Child Care Aware of America. He is a co-author of the Head Start Emergency Preparedness Manual.
Author(s)Andrew Roszak, JD, MPA
Amanda Lancaster
A graduate of Appalachian State University with a BS in Communications, Advertising, Amanda served as marketing and sales coordinator for Gryphon House from 2019-2022.
