Step 2: Practice Your Plan Using Drills

Drills are a time for children and adults to become more familiar with an emergency by practicing together. They help everyone know how to respond quickly and safely. Regular drills can also help make an actual emergency seem less overwhelming so everyone can stay focused and feel more confident.

Consider inviting emergency services staff from your community to watch some of your drills and give feedback.

Write your plan for emergency drills with feedback from your emergency preparedness task force. The plan should include a yearly schedule that lists which drills you’ll practice, and how often — every month, quarter, or year. Decide whether you will include a mix of announced and unannounced drills. Be sure your schedule meets the requirements in your jurisdiction. For example, some drills, such as evacuation drills, may be required every month by your local fire marshal or child care licensor.

Always inform families in advance about announced drills you will do, so they can prepare their child before the drill and talk with them after about how it made them feel. Be sure to inform families after an unannounced drill.

Do a drill walkthrough with staff before running any drills with children. Make sure you have working equipment for infants and toddlers and children who are not mobile, such as walking ropes, evacuation cribs, wagons, strollers with multiple seats, and portable wheelchairs. Talk about what worked well and what you may want to change before including children in the drill. Use a trauma-informed approach by preparing children for drills with songs, scripted stories, and dramatic play. For example, some children may be frightened by loud voices, alarms, or sirens. Since young children have more difficulty knowing what is real, the best practice is not to have unannounced stay-safe drills.

Keep Mental Health in Mind

Always consider children’s emotional and developmental needs in your emergency procedures and drills. Considering children’s needs in advance will help you during and after an emergency. Be aware that emergency training and drills may trigger previous trauma and give opportunities for children and staff to talk about their feelings.

Tips for planning and conducting drills:

• Use your hazard assessment to decide what kind of drills to practice.
• Follow the requirements in your jurisdiction to make a schedule for the drills you will practice throughout the year.
• Schedule the drills for different days of the week, different times (morning and afternoon), and different facilities if your program has more than one.
• Run drills with children present, so staff can practice emergency procedures with them.
• Record your drills by keeping a Drill Log.
• Make time for everyone to talk after the drill to review how the drill went to learn what worked and find areas for improvement.
• Change the response procedures as needed and practice again.
• Build children’s skills in and knowledge of emergency drills by encouraging them to ask questions and talk about their experience after the drill.

Last Updated: June 13, 2025