You don’t actually need a license to use the ham bands in a true emergency.

Where I’m at a Baofeng can hit the local repeaters just fine. I handed them out to my family when we had a major multiday communication outage (cellular and internet were down) and set them up to listen to the repeater. I told them if there’s a life threatening emergency they can transmit. It made everyone feel a little safer.

While I personally have a better radio, they are great as cheap backups.

(assuming you're american)

Legally you do, that exception only applies to amateur station, not unlicenced users.

Why not get a gmrs licence instead, and give them gmrs type-accepted radios that they can use and try out and get experienced with even when not in an emergency? It's like buying cheap cars to give to people to drive for the first time in an active emergency... dangerous both to them and to others.