Practical guide · Children
When something unusual happens
“Being prepared doesn't mean being afraid. It means knowing what to do when something unusual happens.”
Introduction
Most days life runs completely normally. You get up in the morning, go to school, meet friends, do homework at home, go to training or rest. But sometimes something can happen that disrupts a normal day.
- The power goes out.
- There is no running water.
- A big storm arrives.
- Someone gets injured.
- An evacuation is announced at school.
- A frightening message starts spreading online.
We call these crisis or emergency situations. It doesn't mean you should be afraid of them every day. It just means it is good to know what to do when something unusual actually happens.
Being prepared means
- Knowing who to listen to.
- Knowing important numbers.
- Being able to stay calm.
- Knowing where to find help.
- Having adults around you who you can turn to.
Situation 01
Stop and listen to instructions
“In a crisis situation the most important thing is not to panic quickly. The most important thing is knowing who to listen to.”
Story: Adam and the evacuation
The maths lesson had just started when the school intercom crackled. The headteacher announced that all pupils should calmly leave the building following the evacuation plan. The classroom buzzed. Someone started laughing, someone got scared, someone wanted to run straight to their locker for their phone.
But the teacher said calmly: "Please listen to me now. Leave your notebooks, line up, and we'll go the same way as in the practice."
Adam wanted to ask what was happening. He was nervous. But he could see his teacher knew what to do. He went with the others, stayed with the class, and waited outside for instructions.
It turned out there had been smoke in one part of the school. Nobody got hurt. Adam remembered one thing: when something unusual happens, the first thing to do is stop, listen to an adult, and not create chaos.
When something unexpected happens, your body reacts fast — your heart pounds, you want to run, you want to ask questions. That is normal. But in a crisis, calm action usually helps most. At school, listen to your teacher. At home, listen to your parents. When firefighters or paramedics are involved, follow their instructions. You don't have to know everything. What matters is staying with the people whose job it is to handle the situation.
Small challenge
- Next time there is an evacuation drill at school, notice: which way your class leaves.
- Where everyone gathers outside.
- Who gives instructions.
- What helps prevent chaos.
Situation 02
Remember important numbers
“Sometimes the right number can help faster than long deliberation.”
Story: Nela and the ambulance
Nela was walking back from the shops with her grandmother when she noticed a man on the pavement who had come over unwell. He sat down on the ground and looked confused.
"Nela, we'll call an ambulance," said her grandmother.
Nela took out her phone. Her hands were shaking a little, but she knew the number — 155.
The operator asked where they were, what had happened and whether the man was breathing. Her grandmother answered and Nela held the phone.
A few minutes later an ambulance arrived. On the way home her grandmother said: "You see? You don't have to be a doctor. You just need to know who to call — and you can help someone."
Emergency numbers exist for situations involving health, safety or life. They are free and available around the clock.
When you call an emergency number
- 1Say what happened.
- 2Say where it happened.
- 3Say who needs help.
- 4Say whether anyone is injured or in danger.
- 5Say your name.
- 6Don't hang up first — wait for the operator to end the call.
Situation 03
If you get lost
“If you get lost, the most important thing is not to panic and to find a safe adult.”
Story: Tobiáš at the market
Tobiáš was at a big market with his parents. Music was playing everywhere and people were pushing between the stalls. He stopped for a moment at a stall with wooden toys. When he turned round, his parents were nowhere to be seen.
His stomach tightened. He wanted to run off through the crowd and look for them. But then he remembered what his mum had told him: "If you ever get lost, don't run far away. Stay near the last place you saw us."
Tobiáš stayed at the stall and spoke to the woman selling there. "Excuse me, I've lost my parents."
She took him to the organisers, who announced his name over the loudspeaker, and a few minutes later his mum was hugging him.
Even a careful child can get lost — in a shop, on a trip, at a station, on a school trip. What to do?
- 1Stop.
- 2Don't run off randomly.
- 3Try to return to the last place you were with an adult.
- 4Find a safe adult — a shop assistant, police officer, person in uniform, parent with children, person at an information desk.
Never go off somewhere with a stranger without your parents or the organisers knowing.
Try it out
- Before a bigger event, agree in advance: where you will meet if you get separated.
- What the information point is called.
- Who is the adult you can approach.
- Whether you know your parents' phone numbers by heart.
Situation 04
When the power goes out
“When something stops working, it doesn't mean immediate danger. It means finding out what to do next.”
Story: Oliver and the power cut
Oliver was watching a film in the evening when the lights suddenly went out. The TV switched off. The Wi-Fi stopped working.
"Mum?" he called from his room.
His mum came in with a torch. "The power's gone out. Probably just our street. We'll stay calm."
Oliver felt uncomfortable at first. The flat was dark and everything was unusually quiet. They played cards at the table for a while.
Then Oliver realised that a power cut isn't pleasant, but it can be managed when the adults know what to do.
Sometimes electricity, the internet or water can go out — because of a storm, a fault or some other unusual event. In that moment it helps to:
- Stay calm and stay with adults.
- Save your phone battery — don't play videos unnecessarily.
- Use a torch rather than candles if possible.
- Listen to verified information.
Children are not responsible for emergency supplies. But it is useful to know where things are at home: torch, drinking water, spare batteries or a power bank.
Try it out
- Where is our torch at home?
- Do we have spare batteries or a power bank?
- Where do we have drinking water?
- What should I do if the power goes out?
Situation 05
When you're home alone and something unexpected happens
“When you're home alone, the most important thing is knowing who to call.”
Story: Sára and the unknown visitor
Sára was home alone for a while. Her mum had gone shopping. Suddenly someone rang the doorbell.
Sára went quiet. She wasn't expecting any visitors. She went to the door but didn't open it. She asked through the door: "Who is it?"
The man on the other side said he had come to check the water.
Sára remembered the rule they had at home: when she was alone, she didn't open the door to strangers. She called her mum. Her mum told her not to open the door.
It later turned out that nobody knew anything about any water check. Sára was glad she hadn't rushed.
When you are home alone, it is good to have clear rules:
- Don't open the door to strangers.
- Don't tell strangers you are home alone.
- Call a parent or another agreed adult.
- In danger, call 112.
- Don't try to fix electricity, gas or a major fault.
Calling an adult is not embarrassing. It is the right thing to do.
Situation 06
When a frightening message spreads
“In a crisis it is important not to spread fear faster than the truth.”
Story: Laura and the message in the chat
A message appeared in the group chat: "Apparently school is closing tomorrow because something dangerous happened. Pass it on!"
Laura was scared. She was about to forward it, but then she stopped. She didn't know who had written it. There was no message from school. Her parents didn't know anything about it either.
Laura didn't forward the message. Instead she asked her mum and checked the school's official communication. It turned out to be nonsense.
Laura remembered that in a crisis situation, a message itself can be a source of fear.
When something extraordinary happens, people share information quickly. Some of it is true, some inaccurate and some completely made up. So it is worth asking:
- Who wrote it?
- Is it from an official source — school, municipality, police, fire brigade, parents?
- Am I just spreading someone else's fear?
- Will it help anyone if I pass it on?
In a crisis it is better to verify than to forward quickly. Stop. Check it. Don't send it straight away.
Situation 07
When you feel scared
“Fear in an unusual situation is not a mistake. It is a signal that you need safety and support.”
Story: Míša and the storm
After a strong storm the power was out and the wind was still blowing outside. Míša was pretending to be fine, but he was actually scared. Every bang of a branch against the window startled him. He didn't want to say anything in case he seemed like a little kid.
Then his dad sat down next to him and asked: "Are you scared?"
Míša was quiet for a moment, then nodded.
His dad didn't say: "Don't be scared." Instead he said: "That makes sense. It's unusual. We're home, we're together, and we know what to do."
Míša sat closer to him. The fear didn't disappear completely, but it got smaller.
When something unusual is happening, you might feel fear, uncertainty, anger or sadness. That is normal — your body is trying to protect you. Fear often gets smaller when you're not alone with it and you know what is happening. It helps to:
- Be with someone close.
- Say what you are afraid of.
- Breathe slowly.
- Stop watching frightening news the whole time.
- Do something calm and stick to familiar things.
Situation 08
How to help others safely
“Helping is good. But first you need to be safe yourself.”
Story: Filip and the injured classmate
On the school playground one boy fell from the climbing frame and started crying. Filip wanted to run straight over and lift him up. But the teacher stopped him: "Wait. First let's check whether it is safe to approach him."
Filip stood next to the teacher. Then he ran to get another adult and helped move the other children back so the injured boy had space.
Filip felt like he hadn't done much. But the teacher told him: "You helped correctly. You don't have to be the one who solves everything — and you can still help safely."
In a crisis situation there is an important rule: safety first, help second. That means:
- Don't run into a dangerous place.
- Don't touch an injured person if you don't know whether it's safe.
- Call an adult or summon help.
- Calm others down and don't spread panic.
- Follow the instructions of adults.
Help doesn't have to mean a heroic act. Sometimes you help by calling an adult, handing over a phone, bringing water or staying calm.
Emergency card
Fill it in with a parent or adult.
Save it on your phone or print it out and put it in your school bag.
If something happens, I will call
Contact 1
Name: _______________
Phone: _______________
Contact 2
Name: _______________
Phone: _______________
Contact 3
Name: _______________
Phone: _______________
Emergency numbers
My address
Street and number: _______________
Town/village: _______________
What to know at home
Where is the torch: ___
Where is the first aid kit: ___
Where is drinking water: ___
Where we meet if something happens: ___
What to take away from this section
Crisis situations are not something you have to face alone.
Stop and listen to instructions.
If there is danger, call an adult or an emergency line.
Don't spread unverified messages.
If you are scared, say so.
Think about safety first, then about helping.
It is good to know where to find important things at home.
You are not alone in crisis situations.
Being prepared doesn't mean being afraid. It means knowing what to do when something unusual happens.