From Jennifer Wolf,
Your Guide to Single Parents.
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Inevitably, at some point, your child will get sick and need to come home from school early or stay home all day. What will you do? Here are some tips to help you prepare for those times when your child is sick and needs to stay home:

• Prepare a set of emergency instructions to keep on your desk at work. Are there parts of your job that only you can do? Leave a set of clearly-written instructions at your desk so that your co-workers would be able to step in on a moment's notice and accomplish those things that absolutely must get done. In most cases, while your necessary absence may still be inconvenient, your employer will appreciate your effort to plan for those tasks that can not wait for your return.
  
  More: Questions to Ask Your Employer as You Prepare Backup Child Care Plans


• Make sure that your child's school has accurate contact information at all times. This includes your work number and your cell phone number. In addition, be in the practice of keeping your cell phone on and accessible so that you can be reached in emergencies. You should also store all of your contact information in your child's backpack, as well.
  
  More: Access a printable emergency contact form


• Maintain an updated list of back-up child care options. In the event that you were not available to pick up your child from school during the day, who would you send in your place? Don't just record that person's phone number on the school's emergency contact form; work out a plan with that person for how the situation would be handled. Would they care for your child in their home or yours? Would they need a house key, and would your child need a car seat? Work through these details in advance so that when emergencies happen, you both know what to expect.
  
  More: Finding Back Up Child Care


• Keep necessary medicines on hand. Finally, clean out your medicine cabinet at least once a year, and throw away old medicines. In addition, keep a bottle of children's fever reducer on hand, yet out of your child's reach. This way, when emergencies do happen, you won't have the added task of needing to run out to the store at the last minute.
  
  More: Medicine Cabinet Clean Out