How to create a family emergency plan

A family emergency plan is a simple agreement about whom to notify, where to meet, and what to do when usual contact fails. It should also work without internet or with a dead phone battery. Agree before an urgent situation arises.

What should a family safety plan include? Define primary and backup contacts, reference places, and how to report changes. Include who may pick up the child and what to do if that person cannot be found. Adapt the plan to age, accessibility needs, and actual family routes. Keep a copy accessible outside the phone.

What should I do if my child does not answer their phone? Consider the context: they may be in class, without signal, or out of battery. Try a clear message and contact whoever should be with them, such as the school or responsible adult. Check the last agreement, expected time, and available information. No single waiting time suits every case.

If there are signs of danger or suspected disappearance, contact authorities immediately. You do not need to wait 24 hours to report a missing child or teenager in Brazil. Brazil's ECA requires immediate investigation after the competent authorities are notified. (Planalto)

How can you teach a child to ask for emergency help? Practice short phrases: their name, what happened, and where they are using an understandable landmark. Show which adults and services can help where they spend time. Practice at home without calling public emergency numbers for training.

Explain that asking for help matters more than trying to handle something frightening alone. The plan should not require a child to face danger to retrieve a phone or prove they can use the app.

When should you use messages, calls, or family SOS? An arrival update can be a message. An urgent change may require a call. Alkateia's SOS communicates a need for help to the family with live location, but depends on device and network conditions. Urgent medical care, violence, or fire require the appropriate official services. (Brazilian Ministry of Health) (Anatel)

How should adults coordinate their response? Agree on who tries contact and who seeks help so nobody assumes someone else has acted. Keep information objective: time, place, and confirmed facts. Do not publicly share documents or sensitive details without guidance. Review the plan when school, address, or routines change.

How does Alkateia help? The app combines chat, audio, location, and SOS among up to five authorized members. It can be the family's agreed channel alongside offline alternatives. Explore how SOS works and keep emergency numbers handy.