The war is on, and there is a possibility of getting under the enemy attacking all the citizens, including children. According to juvenile prosecutors, on September 2023, as a result of military aggression of the Russian Federation, more than 500 underage Ukrainians were killed; more than 1600 are the victims.

To minimize the risks for your child, you should teach them the rules of behavior during an air raid and provide them with a bug-out bag.

The most important thing in a dangerous situation is to evacuate the children to the shelter. Parents must ensure that their educational institutions can provide proper shelter and that the teachers have evacuation kits. There is no full list of things that should be in the bug-out bag. However, there are some recommendations. The Charity Fund "Direct Inclusion" has gathered key advice from the Ministry of Health, the National Police, the Education Ombudsman, and pediatricians on the issue of student safety.

Common rules

First, you should ensure the child can carry the bag. No matter what parents want, all important things and toys will not fit. Therefore, mind the child's strength and do not overload their bag.

The bug-out bag must be modern and secure, but there is no need to take ones with camouflage colors. The bag should have additional light-reflective elements.

What should be inside the bag?

Experts recommend putting 1.5-2 liters of water in a child's bag. The volume depends on age: the older the child, the more liquid they need. The Ministry of Health also recommends paying attention to packaged juices (daily norm - 200 ml), and a few tea bags will be useful.

Canned food is a universal component of bug-out bags. However, remember that the child must be able to open the can, or an adult must be nearby to help them.

Don`t forget dry foods. They need to be hermetically stored, have a long shelf life, and not be affected by temperature factors. Those can be unsalted crackers, bread, bars, nuts, or seeds. Instant foods, such as sublimated soups or porridges, can also be useful. Doctors note that a child can eat one or two portions of such food daily.

Put some chocolate or candies into the bag if the child is not allergic to them.

Put the document too

Children's ombudsman Serhiy Horbachov asks adults to make special cards with basic data about the minor: full name, date of birth, residential address, telephone numbers of the mother, father or lawful guardians, blood type, etc. This note should be waterproof (you can stick the paper with tape), keep it in the child's pocket or a bug-out bag.

Experts recommend keeping the original documents with the child's parents. Instead, put copies of the child`s birth certificate, medical card, foreign passport, and residence permit in their bag.

First medical aid

Consider if your child has some food or medical allergies. Also, if a child has some disease, put the necessary things in the bag (not only medications but also an inhaler, a hearing aid, or contact lenses).

Put the basic medicines the child can use (antipyretics, painkillers, meds against intestinal infections, etc.).

What else will the child need?

The Charity Fund "Direct Inclusion" also advises to put the following things in the bug-out bag of the child (if there is free space in it):

• a whistle and a flashlight;
• a power bank, a charger;
• a change of clothes and underwear;
• a small towel;
• a small toy.