COUNTRY CHILD CARE’S EMERGENCY PLANS
UPDATED: Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Transportation for Evacuation: Providers should put the children in a vehicle and transport if being told to evacuate. Providers do not have to fill out transportation paperwork because it would be an emergency situation. It is okay to transport children that you do not normally transport.
Center Responsibility: The staff will assume all responsibility of children on/off premises until they are released to a parent/guardian or to an official evacuation center, in which case selected staff will remain with the children until all have been reunited with their families.
Employee Responsibility:All employees will remain on the premises as service workers, as designated by law. Such employees will be subject to whatever tasks are assigned by the person or persons in charge, and may not leave the premises until the same person or persons give them official permission to do so.
Shelter In Place: In the event that it is safer for the provider and children to remain inside rather than evacuate, the provider will keep all children in the main building’s hallway. If the situation is one that requires the provider and the children to be away from windows, the provider and children will move into the main building’s bathrooms. Parents and guardians will be notified to pick up when the situation is in place.
Emergency Evacuation Procedure: The director and staff will take all the children’s files with us in the event of an evacuation so that parents and guardians can be contacted. If evacuation is necessary, the center will take children will all available vehicles to the Maize Fire Station 33 located at 10625 W 53rd St. North, Maize, Ks. 67101. The following route is the route we will take to get to the fire station so that parents and guardians can follow our “footsteps.”
Emergency:Lost Child
Emergency:Chemical Weapons or Release
Emergency:Water Utility Failure
Emergency:Power Utility Failure
Emergency:Lock Down
Emergency:Lock Down for a Threat of a Violent Person
Emergency:Violent Person in the Center
Emergency:Flood
Emergency:Tornado or Severe Storms\
Emergency:Fire
Emergency: Allergic Reaction:
Emergency:Bomb Threat/ Terrorist Threat/ Acts of Violence Threats
Emergency:Emergency Medical Injury or Workmen’s Compensation
Emergency:Exposure to Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Material.
Emergency:Lost Child
Summary: In the event that a child seems to be missing, a thorough search of the grounds would be made after making sure that the remaining children were safe. Parents/Guardians and police would be notified immediately if the child were not found. Police procedures would then be followed after the police arrived.
Plan of Action:Call 9111 if needed immediately.
Step 1)Immediately call for assistance when a child is unaccounted for in your care.
Methods of calling for assistance:
- Protect the children under your care at all times. If needed remove the children from the building use the same process as the fire drill. Remember to take a class list with you for student attendance.
- Using the intercom system, #00 and stating: “I need help and a director, I am looking for (John, Smith), and I need help now.” By using #00 intercom system the staff inside and outside of the building can hear your request.Do not leave your class unattended to go look for the child.
- If unable to use intercom system call out for other employee’s assistance and give information to assist in recovery of child. Do not leave your class unattended to go look for the child.
Step 2)Director, office staff, and float staff members will assist in looking for the child.
Step 3)Follow up:
Child is located:If the child is located, return to classroom where lead teacher will do a full room count. The director will be informed of the entire situation. Further actions will be deemed by the director at that time.
Child is still missing:If the child is not located, the director, office staff, or float staff will call:
- 911: Staff will provide the following information: Country Child Care, 404 W. Irma, Maize, Ks 67101, (316) 722-4500, Specific information regarding the nature of the emergency.
- Child’s Family: Staff will inform the family that the child is missing and the police have been notified. Staff will also answer any questions and give specific information regarding the occurrence.
Step 4)Director will call KDHE to notify of incident and that a critical incident report was made as well as the result of the incident.
Emergency:Chemical Weapons or Release
Summary:First and foremost, follow First Responders directions. If unable to contact, follow the plan of action. In the event of a chemical weapon or chemical release, the center would follow a “shelter-in” procedure. The children would be immediately moved into rooms where the windows, doors, and ventilation will all be sealed with tape. Police will be called, and they would give further instructions.
Plan of Action:
Step 1)Immediatelymove all children and staff inside the building.
Step 2)Close and lock all windows and doors.
Step 3) Enter and seal a room (approved rooms: Jill’s office, employee bathroom, children’s bathrooms) to prevent air from entering by sealing doors/windows with towels, tape, and trash bags.
Step 4) Wait for further police instruction.
Step 5) Stay off the phone lines, as emergency responders will need the phone lines. Cell phones may be used. If parents call the main phone line, inform them that parents will not be allowed to remove the children from the center as it would cause a break in the sealing of the room, allowing for possible exposure. Center will remain on lock down until appropriate aid arrives to remove the children and staff. Staff may not leave any child unless a parent/guardian assumes responsibility for them. This includes if relocated to another site.
Note:See Emergency Evacuation Procedure.If an immediate evacuation is required, the police will give further instructions. All the children’s files will be taken with us in the event of an evacuation so that we can contact parents/guardians.
Emergency:Water Utility Failure
Summary: In the event of water failure, the center will remain open for 2 hours. In the event that the water failure is still continuing after 2 hours the center will inform parents to pick up their children, and close early.
Plan of Action:
Step 1)Conserve all water.
- Hand washing: Children may use antibacterial gel or wet ones to clean hands.
- Bottles: Use the water coolers for making bottles.
- Drinking Water: Children may have access to the water coolers for drinking water.
- Dishes: Boil conserved tap water on the stove, use as hot water for dish sanitization.
Step 2) Director will contact the company or city hall to see how long until the service is back up and running.
- If the expected time of water return is under 2 hours, parents will be informed on their daily sheets. They will not be contacted by telephone as the center will resume normal business practices in under the time that it would take to contact parents and have the children picked up.
- If the expected time of water return is longer than 2 hours, director, office staff, and float staff members will assist in calling parents to pick up the children due to closing.
Emergency:Power Utility Failure
Summary: In the event of power failure, the center will remain open for 2 hours. In the event that the power failure is still continuing after 2 hours the center will inform parents to pick up their children, and close early.
Plan of Action:
Step 1)Staff will have the children remain calm, reassure the children, and do a child count.
Step 2)Have all the children “Freeze” where they are until emergency lighting comes on.
Step 3)Open all curtains to let natural light inside the building.
Step 4)The classroom can either go outside until the lights come back on (if weather permitting) or do an activity close to the room’s windows. Children may use the restroom with the assistance of a staff member and a flash light.
Step 5) Director will contact the company or city hall to see how long until the service is back up and running.
- If the expected time of power return is under 2 hours, parents will be informed on their daily sheets. They will not be contacted by telephone as the center will resume normal business practices in under the time that it would take to contact parents and have the children picked up.
- If the expected time of power return is longer than 2 hours, director, office staff, and float staff members will assist in calling parents to pick up the children due to closing.
Emergency:Lock Down
Summary: In the event of a necessary lock down all doors will be locked, window curtains closed, and staff/children kept away from the glass and window doors. The staff will protect the children under their care at all times.If there is a need to remove the children from the building use the same procedure as the Emergency Evacuation Procedure.
Plan of Action:
Director/Office Staff Responsibility:
Step 1) Director or office staff will go over the intercom stating that the center is under a “lockdown.”
Step 2)Director, office staff, and available float staff will assist in locking all of the center’s doors as quickly as possible.
Step 3) Call the police: 911: Staff will provide the following information: Country Child Care, 404 W. Irma, Maize, Ks 67101, (316) 722-4500, Specific information regarding the nature of the emergency.
Step 5)Thedirector/office staff will protect the children under their care at all times.A staff member is to do everything in their power to ensure that a child is not hurt or removed from their protection.
Step 6) Director and office staff will remain in the lobby to unlock the doors as parents pick up or drop off their children for the day. Directors and office staff will inform the parents of the situation and parents will decide if they wish to leave their child in the center’s care at that time.
Teacher Responsibility:
Step 1) If outside: line up to return to room, do a child count, return to room, do another child count.
Step 2) Staff will have the children remain calm, reassure the children.
Step 3) Close your window curtains and continue on with your daily schedule.
Step 4) Stay out of the hallways and continue lock down until given further instruction from director.
Step 5)The staff will protect the children under their care at all times.A teacher is to do everything in their power to ensure that a child is not hurt or removed from their protection.
Emergency:Lock Down for a Threat of a Violent Person
Summary: In the event of a necessary lock down all doors will be locked, window curtains closed, lights turned off, and staff/children kept away from the glass and window doors. The staff will protect the children under their care at all times.If there is a need to remove the children from the building use the same procedure as the Emergency Evacuation Procedure.
Plan of Action:
Director/Office Staff Responsibility:
Step 1)Director or office staff will go over the intercom stating that the center is under a “violent person lockdown.”
Step 2)Director, office staff, and available float staff will assist in locking all of the center’s doors as quickly as possible.
Step 3) Shut off all lights in the entire facility.
Step 4) Call the police: 911: Staff will provide the following information: Country Child Care, 404 W. Irma, Maize, Ks 67101, (316) 722-4500, Specific information regarding the nature of the emergency.
Step 5)Forthe safety of the center, no child or staff is to remain in the lobby or offices.
Step 6 )The director/office staff will protect the children under their care at all times.A staff member is to do everything in their power to ensure that a child is not hurt or removed from their protection.
Step 7) Director will call KDHE to notify of incident and that a critical incident report was made as well as the result of the incident.
Step 8) Director and office staff will inform parents at pick up unless otherwise decided by the director and the severity of the incident.
Teacher Responsibility:
Step 1) If outside: line up to return to room, do a child count, return to room, do another child count.
Step 2) Staff will have the children remain calm, reassure the children.
Step 3) Close your window curtains.
Step 4) Shut off light to your room if it hasn’t already been done.
Step 5) Have your children sit quietly away from exterior walls, windows, and glass doors.
Step 6) Turn on music to cover any yelling or banging that might be going on outside.
Step 7) Stay out of the hallways and continue lock down until given further instruction from director or police.
Step 8 )The staff will protect the children under their care at all times.A teacher is to do everything in their power to ensure that a child is not hurt or removed from their protection.
Emergency:Violent Person in the Center
Summary: In the event of violent person or potentially violent person within the center, staff members will alert other staff over the speaker phone. The children will be protected at all times. If there is a need to remove the children from the building use the same procedure as the Emergency Evacuation Procedure.
Plan of Action:
Step 1)Immediately call for assistance or call for your neighboring teacher:
- Using the intercom system, #00 and state: “I need immediate assistance with a RED STAPLER in the (give room).” Call a director.
- If unable to use the intercom system call out for other employee’s assistance.
- Director will immediately drop what they are doing to assist teacher.
Step 2) Notify the police.
- Office staff will immediately call 911: Staff will provide the following information: Country Child Care, 404 W. Irma, Maize, Ks 67101, (316) 722-4500, Specific information regarding the nature of the emergency.
Step 3) Ensure the safety of the children.
a. Remain calm, appear understanding, and calm your children.
- Protect yourself and the children at all times.
- Other classrooms need to start moving children to the other building and remain there until further instruction is given. Do this quietly and without drawing attention. Do a child count and take your classroom roster.
- Director will take over the situation while staff takes their children to the other building.
Step 4) Wait for police to arrive.
Step 5) When the situation has ended.
a.Notify parents and guardians of the situation.
b.Director will call KDHE to notify of incident and that a Critical Incident Report was made and filed.
Emergency:Flood
Summary: In the event of flood, children will remain in the center until parents pick up or emergency evacuation. See Emergency Evacuation Procedure.
Plan of Action:
Step 1)Remain in the building.
- Unplug all electrical items and turn off all lights.
- Children will be moved to sit on the tables, or the cubbies, depending on how high the water rises.
- Make sure the children are calm.
Step 2) Director and office staff will contact all parents and guardians that the center is closing and that the children need to be picked up immediately due to flooding.
Emergency:Tornado or Severe Storms
Summary: In the event of tornado, children will remain in the center until parents pick up or emergency evacuation. See Emergency Evacuation Procedure. Staff will take all children into the designated hallway in the main hallway. The children will sit down in their room’s designated spots, tuck their heads, and the staff will place sleeping mats on top of them to protect from debris.
Plan of Action:
Step 1)Pick up your classroom roster/child count.
Step 2)Evacuate classroom to the main building’s hallway and sit down, tuck heads, and place sleeping mats on top of the children.
Infant Room: boy’s bathroomBug Room: boy’s bathroom
Jungle Room: white hallway wall in front of boy’s bathroom
Pony Room: girl’s bathroomLily Pad Room: girl’s bathroom
Castle Room: white hallway wall in front of girl’s bathroom
School Age: brown hallway wall
If parent or guardians arrive to take children, they are permitted to remove their child from the premises.