Ten Ways to Protect Children’s Emotional and Physical Health During Wildfires

Today, we’re going to look at a topic that concerns our most valuable and vulnerable-our children. While we are in a mad dash trying to catch all the latest news and protect our home and belongings, we may not realize the impact these wildfires can have on our children emotionally and physically.
Here are ten ways to protect children’s emotional and physical health during the wildfires:
1. Keep communication lines open and allow your children to express their feelings and concerns. Your children must feel that they can bring their questions to you and express their feelings to you.
2. Set aside a time each day for a family devotional and prayer. The purpose of this time is to teach your children God’s perspective and the simple principles in His Word. Suggestions are in the video.
3. Communicate your safety plans in simple terms. Children feel safe when they know that you have a plan to protect the family. State your plan in positive terms.
4. Minimize or even prevent your children from viewing the news. They don’t need to know everything, and the news needs to come from and be screened by you.
5. Help each child to prepare their own suitcase with necessities. You may not need to evacuate, but if you do, you’ll be prepared.
6. Monitor AQI or air quality levels to determine outdoor activity. When air quality is poor, stay inside as much as possible and close the fresh air intake on your air conditioner system to keep outdoor air from entering your home.
7. Purchase a high-grade respirator mask for everyone in your household. Use these when the wildfires are near, during, and afterward when the air is toxic. If your child has lung issues such as allergies and asthma, you might want to consider relocating them to a trusted friend or relative until the air is clear again-especially if schools have gone to online learning. Check with your doctor if any of your children have respiratory issues.
8. Consider using supplements to boost your children’s immune system. I’m talking about proven supplements such as:
Vitamin C - which is a powerful antioxidant proven to minimize airway irritation and improve the health of our lungs after smoke exposure.
B Complex - which reduces inflammation effects caused by smoke inhalation. B vitamins also protect the body during stressful times. It’s known as the stress vitamin.
And
Vitamin D - which boosts their immune systems and helps them to fight secondary issues.
9. Allow your children to see your faith in action. Teach them that stuff can be replaced and that this world is not our home. The Bible clearly tells us in Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
It’s so comforting to know that we’re just passing through and Heaven is our true home where there will be no hurricanes, fires, cancer, sadness, or pain. Praise God. When you are calm in the middle of a crisis, they take their cues from you!
And if you should need to evacuate and you return to a total or near total loss:
10. Teach your children the practice of gratitude and the promise of God’s provision. Even if a total loss, set the example for expressing gratitude that each of you is alive and allow your children to draw or list all the things that have to be thankful for. Your children can see God at work and learn to give thanks, look for the good, and depend on His provisions.
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**** This content is strictly the opinion of Ginny Brant and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Ginny Brant nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. ****