Emergency contacts in time of Covid

[Anonymous]

Our kids are returning to daycare but all of our emergency contacts seem pretty inappropriate now- older parents who live a couple hours away, neighbors who have a vulnerable family member and are on lockdown indefinitely, friends whose kids normally attend the daycare but are not comfortable going back yet. Part of the reason we chose these people to begin with is that my kids are completely comfortable with them and would go with them if needed. I'm hoping the third person I mentioned will still feel comfortable being a contact in the unlikely event it is needed (we are both teleworking for the time being). But I don't want them to feel like they can't say no if they aren't comfortable with the idea of having to bring my kids back to their house in an emergency.

Any ideas? It just seems like a big ask of anyone right now. We are pretty new to the daycare so I just don't know many of the other parents super-well yet, and I don't know who is returning anyway.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t necessarily take the grandparents off if they visit (normally) because I know at our preschool the emergency contact list also serves as a list of people who can pick your child up (with your permission). It’s good to retain that option. I would just find someone to replace vulnerable neighbor and not sweat it too much. Just lust the grandparents last.

But yeah, come to think of it we haven’t seen our “emergency contacts“ in months due to social distancing.

[Anonymous]

You're over thinking this. Always be near your phone. The chances of an emergency, them calling you, then your husband, THEN the next person are very small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're over thinking this. Always be near your phone. The chances of an emergency, them calling you, then your husband, THEN the next person are very small.

+1. For the past 2 years, grandparents are never get called because I pick up all emergency calls. DH is the Second backups.

[Anonymous]

I use my neighbor. I work from home so I’m almost always around. If the school can’t reach me, odds are I’m home and something is wrong with my phone. My neighbor can check if my car is here, and ring my doorbell if the school contacts her for some reason.

[Anonymous]

DC Director here:
You need TWO types of emergency people
1. people who can make emergency health care decisions should I need to take a child to the hospital. they will save children's lives but will NOT set their broken arm just on my authority, so we need grandparents, etc who can receive a call (no matter where they live in the US) and give permission for something if parents can't be reached.

2. someone else (or could be same people) who can pick up your child if you cannot. neighbors, friends, anyone who lives close enough to hustle and get there. I ALSO used to encourage people to list their assistant, cubicle mate, secretary, boss - someone who could come over, grab your child and bring them back to the office if you couldn't get there in time, because that often would be an option, based on the reason you couldn't get there to pick up. (especially if you work in DC and your child goes to a center in DC - obviously not if your child is in another state from where you work)

In the age of covid, just ask - they'll say yes, the chances of it actually happening are like ZERO - we can usually reach you now that we all have cell phones!

[Anonymous]

Thank you!