(fire alarm)
Earthquakes, fire, flood,
power failures, accidents,
intruders. The possibilities for emergencies are
endless. No one knows when an emergency will occur
and that's why child care facilities develop emergency
preparedness plans. When you have taken the time to consider
and plan for all worst case scenarios you can be
assured that your homework is done and the children and staff will
respond and be safe if the unthinkable occurs.
Right? Wrong!
When was your facility’s emergency preparedness plan written?
When was the last time your facility's emergency plan was reviewed?
Nothing ever stays the same. Facilities
and neighborhoods change. Staff changes, children,
and families change. And now the emergency plan that
you carefully considered and wrote a year ago is outdated
and needs to change. The changes to the outdoor
play space that were made a few months ago are a big improvement.
But wait a minute, in an emergency staff and children
were to gather under the pavilion if an evacuation was needed.
The pavilion was removed during the upgrade! It's time
to review and update the emergency plan.
Are there big road construction projects or
new road closings in your neighborhood that change your facility’s
emergency evacuation or relocation plans?
It's time to review and update the emergency plan.
In your facility’s emergency plan when the alarm rings
the lead teacher in each room is to gather the children and
staff in the room, count them to make sure no one is missing
and lead the group to the building exit. It's a great plan
until you remember that the lead teacher in the preschool room will be on
maternity leave for several weeks. It's
time to review and update the emergency plan.
Your facility added a new
mixed age infant-toddler room in the past year.
Does your plan include how infants and toddlers will be evacuated
and accommodated in an emergency? Carlos
uses a wheelchair. How will you accommodate Carlos and other
children with special needs in an emergency?
Chloe, a new toddler in your program, needs medication
every 3 hours. Avir’s mom has a new
job and rides the bus to work on the other side of town.
Destiny now lives with her grandparents, but
her dad picks her up on Wednesdays and Fridays. Does your
facility’s emergency plan have current records on each child and
family? It's time to review and update the emergency
plan. Don't wait for an emergency to remind
you, be proactive. Review and update your
facility's emergency preparedness plan annually and more often
if needed. Download the Great Ideas handout that
accompanies this vodcast for a guide as you review and
update your facility's emergency preparedness plan.
Be sure to discuss the updated plan with staff
so everyone is prepared and knows what to do if an emergency occurs.
(music)