Emergency Disaster Response Plan
Natural and human caused disasters like earthquakes, floods, hazardous material spills and winter storms all happen. It is the goal of this plan to help prepare ahead, to be able to calmly handle any of these events that could impact the child care facility and thus the children’s safety.
General Response Prep
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Post emergency numbers by landline telephone.
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Add emergency numbers to cell phone contacts.
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Provider always has a working phone at hand.
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Teach the older children to phone 9-1-1 to support your emergency response.
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Take First-Aid and CPR classes.
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Develop and post individual specific evacuation plans for children and adults with special needs following recommendations from their medical professionals.
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Find two ways out of each room in the child care facility.
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Find safe spots in the child care facility for each type of emergency.
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Make sure know where located, and how and when to shut off all utilities.
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Conduct fire and emergency drills at least every month. Document these drills on paper.
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Test smoke detectors monthly and change batteries once each year (if applicable). Consider changing batteries when changing the clocks in the Fall for daylight savings time.
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Stock emergency supplies and a disaster supplies kit.
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Replace stored water every six months or as indicated by expiration date. Replace food every six months.
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Be prepared for distressed children after an emergency.
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Provide the Emergency Response Plan to parents of new children.
SERIOUS INJURY / CHILD DEATH
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If a child is injured while in childcare, they will be checked for life-threatening situations.
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Appropriate CPR/First aid will be given.
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If a child is seriously injured, or death has occurred, 911 will be called.
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Child’s parent/legal guardian will be contacted by phone and/or text.
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Any injured child will be kept calm and comfortable until medical services arrive.
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Other children present will be kept calm, removing from the area injured is to a safe location while remaining under supervision.
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Serious Injury/death will be reported following the directions outlined in the current Family Child Care Licensing Rule, as soon as possible within the 24 hrs following the serious injury/death..
Child’s Parents/Legal Guardians are provided:
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Information on each evacuation site.
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Out-of-state contact #.
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Contact information for senior on-site child care facility personnel, cell phone and home phone
Child’s Parent/Legal Guardian contact numbers are:
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Stored in child care facility’s cell phone
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Attached to children
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Kept in written form in emergency kit
The types of natural or human caused disaster situations that could currently happen in this area are:
Fire – Structure or Wildland / Winter storm / Loss of power, water, heat / Windstorm including tornado and hurricane/ ​Flood / Hazard (ie. Chemical) release / Earthquake / Intruder
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Specific action plans are listed for each type of disaster and roles of staff and parents are included.
CHOICE of EVACUATION SHELTERING SITES:
Immediate Area Threat (i.e.: fire, other major building problem)
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Leave the Child Care facility immediately gathering in the designated area within walking distance (as practiced in drills). Supervision of children will be ongoing by provider/supervising staff until each child is picked up by child’s parents/legal guardians or an authorized individual.
More Widespread Threat (i.e.: chemical spill, widespread fire, etc.)
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Leave the Child Care facility immediately. Follow provider’s/supervising staff’s directions to transportation vehicles. Transportation will be provided in the safest manner available to a predetermined off-site location (near or far). Supervision of children will be ongoing by provider/supervising staff until the child is picked up by their parents/legal guardians or an authorized individual.
Mass Ordered Evacuation (i.e.: declared state of emergency)
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Leave the building and evacuate to a mass shelter as determined by the Red Cross and/or local Emergency Personnel. Transportation will be provided in the safest manner available to the predetermined shelter location. Supervision of children will be ongoing by provider/supervising staff until each child is picked up by parents/legal guardians or an authorized individual.
CHILD CARE FACILITY EVACUATION PROCEDURES:
During an evacuation (if at all possible):
When the decision is made to evacuate, the provider/most senior staff on-site will make the announcement in the most expeditious and non-threatening way possible that everyone needs to evacuate.
Procedure to be followed:
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Account for all children, staff, and visitors during the evacuation process.
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Children 2 and under will be evacuated together using portable equipment with wheels as appropriate. The portable equipment is located:
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In case of the need to evacuate through the windows, children will be placed out windows first, using any items available to place them on the ground.
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Once all children are safely evacuated 911 will be called.
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Coordinate all actions with community public safety and/or emergency management officials.
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Determine alternate shelter to be used based on the situation.
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Transport all necessary medications, supplies, records, emergency numbers, and cell phones.
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Confirm transportation arrival time with alternate shelter.
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Parents will be notified of the evacuation and alternate shelter information.
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Make arrangements for support of children at an alternate shelter until reunited with families or return to the evacuated facility.
Shelter-in-Place:
In case of the need to stay put due to a local disaster or on notification from authorities, the following procedures will be followed:
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Children will be taken to predetermined/designated safe interior space/room (above ground, except for tornadoes where the lowest level is safest), as practiced in drills. Emergency kits with food (including formula), diapers, toys, and water are stored in a secured, easily accessible space from the safe room.
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Close/shut all windows and doors.
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A first aid kit is stored in the emergency kit.
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A battery-powered radio and NOAA radio is stored with the emergency supplies.
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A cell phone will be brought into the safe room by the provider/supervising staff.
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Emergency contact information forms are kept with the supplies.
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Supplies for sealing the room are stored in the emergency kits.
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Parents/guardians will be notified once the immediate threat has passed.
Reverse Evacuation:
Reverse evacuation procedures are implemented when conditions inside the building are safer than outside. Reverse evacuation procedures are often implemented in combination with other procedures (e.g.lockdown, shelter-in-place) in order to ensure the safety of students and staff who are outside the building.
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Make an announcement or sound alarm for reverse evacuation
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Move all students and staff inside as quickly as possible
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Assist those needing additional assistance
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Take attendance/ head check
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Lock exits
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Contact Police if necessary
For Hazard that impacts Healthy Air Quality:
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Close all fireplace dampers.
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Close off nonessential rooms such as storage areas, laundry rooms and extra bedrooms.
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Turn off ventilation systems including fans, heating and air conditioners.
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Tape door cracks.
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Place a damp towel or blanket at the bottom of door openings.
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When the all clear is given, go outside until the child care facility is well ventilated.
For Hazard that impacts Healthy Air Quality:
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Close all fireplace dampers.
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Close off nonessential rooms such as storage areas, laundry rooms and extra bedrooms.
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Turn off ventilation systems including fans, heating and air conditioners.
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Tape door cracks.
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Place a damp towel or blanket at the bottom of door openings.
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When the all clear is given, go outside until the child care facility is well ventilated.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (substances that are flammable, explosive, or toxic) :
If a hazardous materials accident occurs within close proximity of the Child Care facility, the provider/supervising staff will notify the fire department. Provider/supervising staff will evacuate or shelter-in-place as directed by emergency personnel.
Chemical Release:
Hazardous chemicals can be released from industrial plants or transportation vehicles
such as tanker trucks or cargo train cars.
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If the child care facility is threatened by a hazardous chemical release, law enforcement or fire officials may order evacuation or shelter-in-place.
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If there is the need to evacuate, notify parents through text/call of evacuation location.
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If sheltering-in-place, notify parents by text/call that you will not be able to open your doors to allow their children out of the facility. Tell parents you will contact them once the shelter-in-place order is lifted and all clear given and it is safe for pick-up of children.
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If unable to reach parents, place a note on the front door or window explaining that shelter-in-place was ordered. Tell parents to get in their car and leave the area immediately. Contact parents as soon as it is safe for them to pick up their children.
FIRE EMERGENCIES:
Procedures For Monthly Fire Drill:
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Talk to the children about the drill (the bell/alarm, rules, and procedures for vacating the building)
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Evacuate the building. No one can stop for coats or any other personal items. Provider collects emergency contact information and counts the children. Everyone should go to the designated on-site shelter.
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Return to the building. The designated lead adult gives approval to re-enter the building.
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Document the Fire Drill. Provider records: date, time and activity engaged in prior to the fire drill.
Response to Fires:
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If a fire/smoke is discovered, immediately begin evacuation following the evacuation procedures and call 911.
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DO NOT TAKE RISKS. Personal safety and that of the children come first.
Pandemic / Community Health Crisis:
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Follow guidelines/directives posted by local authorities, Office of Child and Family Services, Governor’s Office, and CDC.
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Sign up for appropriate department notifications to receive emails about guidelines/directives directly to the provider’s business inbox.
UTILITY DISRUPTION (water, heat, electricity):
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If utilities are disrupted, the decision to close or delay opening of the child care facility will be based on the following factors:
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The temperature on the thermostats register 64° or below, or 85° or higher for 1 hour, with no expectation of improvement, and/or the room conditions prevent adequate ventilation and breathing.
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The light in the child care is diminished to the point that children are at risk.
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The main phone line will be inoperable for more than 1 hour, and no auxiliary cellular phones are available.
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The nutritional needs of the children cannot be met.
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Loss of water that disrupts appropriate diapering, hand washing, and toileting with clean running water for more than 1 hour.
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Live wires will require the immediate closing of the child care facility and the transfer of the children to an alternate site.
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Provider/supervising staff will begin calling/texting child’s parents/legal guardians to inform them of the situation after 1 hour of disrupted service. This time period will allow for assessment of the situation and provide families with as much accurate information as is available.
SEVERE WEATHER:
Windstorm / Winter Storm / Ice Storm / Hurricane / Severe Lightning Storm:
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Monitor storm watch, warnings, blizzard warnings or travel advisories.
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Secure outside equipment.
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Check the status of battery powered radio, cell phones and alternate light sources.
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Remain indoors until storm passage is confirmed, away from large windows where trees and power lines may be present.
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If it is unsafe to remain at the child care facility, the provider/supervising staff will assess whether an alternate site is a safe backup and evacuate the children to that location. Follow evacuation procedures.
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If there is any question about damage to the child care facility, no one will re-enter the building until Emergency Personnel have surveyed and cleared the building for occupancy.
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If an alternative source of heat using open flame is used, make sure that Carbon Monoxide Detectors in the child care facility are operational.
Flood:
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Heavy rains can cause flooding. If the child care facility is threatened by flooding, law enforcement or fire officials may order an evacuation of the facility. Follow procedures for evacuation if this occurs.
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Follow the procedure for Windstorm if you can remain in place.
Earthquake:
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All persons including adults will be instructed to DROP, COVER AND HOLD as soon as the shaking starts.
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As soon as the shaking stops, the child care facility will be evacuated.
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Basic damage assessment of the facility will be done by designated staff.
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If there is no fire or other life hazard, have children get their shoes and coats.
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If cannot re-enter the building, provider/supervising staff will evacuate children in care to one of the evacuation sites.
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Injuries will be dealt with by those trained in First-Aid. If the injuries are severe and the decision is made not to move the victim, the provider/supervising staff will assign an individual to provide care.
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The evacuation kits will be secured and transported with the children, if possible.
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Parents will be notified by text/call of status and if needed of evacuation site
INTRUDER HAZARD – Remain Calm:
Perimeter Issues/Playground Clearance (i.e., unknown animals, suspicious parked vehicles, loiterers):
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Immediately require any children outside to go inside. (Reverse Evacuation)
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Close and lock the doors of the child care facility and remove the children to the designated safe location within the facility.
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Call police to investigate the situation and consult with them to determine the level of potential crisis.
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Evacuate the child care facility if emergency services make this request. Consider whether an existing evacuation route will suffice or if an alternate route must be taken due to the location of the incident.
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Remaining in lock-down until Emergency Personnel provide all-clear.
Potentially Violent Situation:
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Immediately call 911 and seek advice on how to handle the situation.
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Try to isolate the potential aggressor from as many children as possible. Do not physically restrain or block their movements.
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Try to engage the potential aggressor in agreeable conversation to de-escalate the situation.
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Once police arrive, if a decision is made to relocate to an alternate site, provider/supervising staff will follow the appropriate evacuation procedures.
Random Acts of Violence in the Area:
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Close and lock the doors of the Child Care facility and remove the children to the designated safe location within the facility.
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Call 911
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Once police arrive, if a decision is made to relocate to an alternate site, provider/supervising staff will follow the appropriate evacuation procedures.