Make this activity a fun, learning experience for your family and they will come away knowing more about what to expect in an emergency when water becomes scarce. Similar to other emergency drills such as
earthquake, fire, and tornado, this drill is intended to familiarize your family with a difficult situation. They may also become more confident and prepared to deal with other challenges that could arise. Use wisdom and caution when trying out this challenge. Keep members of your family well hydrated and it will be a good experience for everyone.
This activity is also a great way to introduce the principle of preparedness to your children. Let them help prepare the
storage water, teach them about the importance of clean water and its scarcity during emergencies and show them what storage options are available (opaque containers to inhibit algae growth,
smaller containers for easy carrying, or
large containers with
siphon pumps, etc).
It is far less stressful to challenge your family to survive on your
emergency supplies voluntarily than to have to turn to those supplies during an emergency. You may have practiced
fire drills with your family, planned escape routes and a meeting point somewhere in the neighborhood, or practiced climbing down
fire escape ladders from a bedroom. You may have experienced earthquake or tornado drills, and other role-plays to prepare for whatever disaster might occur specific to your area. If you feel your family has those drills down to perfection, or you are concerned about being prepared for all situations that may arise, Emergency Essentials suggests this challenge. It's a simple water challenge but you may be surprised at how revealing it can be.