An open letter from Lynda P. Sanecki, instructor for Nutrition, Health and Safety class, fall 2004.

The class assignment was to develop and outline an emergency plan for child care centers and preschools. The design was open ended, allowing students to develop their own resources and content areas for research and study. It included a review of both the State of NJ licensing standards for young children and the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s accreditation guidelines.

Students were required to define all possible emergencies, the role of staff in each situation, the materials and resources required to deal with these emergencies, procedures for updating pertinent information in their plan and conclude with a personal reflection of the process. While some students were dismayed initially at the lack of specific structure or format, they soon discovered the final plan was quite complex and comprehensive, not easily defined by a simple outline.

When the class met to discuss their projects, with the idea of developing one master plan, they expressed their respect and frustration for the project. While many in the class were currently working with young children, this exercise reinforced the tremendous role all adults bear when caring for children. Students expressed new respect for the supervisor who would have to implement a plan in an emergency. While some did not initially grasp the complexities of the situation, this exercise gave them an opportunity to walk in the shoes of those who have to take on this responsibility.

In conclusion, we all agreed there was no “one size fits all” approach. Common needs could be defined but the responsiveness to any emergency came down to training, resources, the individual situations, and anyone’s initiative in dealing with the crisis. Each program working with young children needed to develop an emergency response plan unique to their needs and resources. The participants came away with an increased knowledge, heightened awareness and a greater sensitivity to the complexities of both the potential dangers and possible solutions we all face in the post 9/11 world.

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