Dr. John Warner Hospital

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DR. JOHN WARNER HOSPITAL

CLINTON, ILLINOIS 61727

POLICY AND PROCEDURE

TITLE PAGE 1 OF 6

TORNADO RESPONSE

DEPARTMENT DATE REVISED

SAFETY 07/25/07

PREPARED BY ORIGINAL DATE

PAT DANISON, SAFETY OFFIDER 04/93, 03/99, 10/7/04

POLICY #: SFTY-2143

REVISED AND SUPERCEDES: Tornado Preparedness Plan 04/93, 03/99 and Tornado Response 10/7/04

POLICY:

It is the policy of Dr. John Warner Hospital that in the event weather conditions pose a potential danger to the hospital and the citizens of DeWitt County, a weather watch/warning will be announced.

STAFF: All Personnel

EQUIPMENT, FORMS & LOCATIONS: Tornado Response Evaluation Form #51.

DEFINITIONS:

TORNADO WATCH: Conditions are conducive to the development of tornadoes in and

close to the watch area.

TORNADO WARNING: A tornado has actually been sighted by spotters or indicated on radar and is occurring or imminent in the warning area.

PROCEDURE:

1.  Weather radios are located in the Emergency Room, and ICU. It is the responsibility of all personnel to monitor the weather radios.

2.  Personnel hearing an alert over the weather radio (or TV station) should notify the Switchboard.

POLICY AND PROCEDURE – TORNADO RESPONSE

3.  The Switchboard Operator will verify the alert and the need for an intercom announcement with the Emergency Room Nurse, Safety Officer or Administration.

4.  The Switchboard Operator is responsible for making all announcements over the in-house/Medical Office Building paging system and for notifying the Physical Therapy Department.

5.  Hospital intercom announcement will contain the same terminology as used by the National Weather Service. (See Switchboard Job Action Sheet)

6.  All watches and warnings end at the time stated, unless extended by the National

Weather Service.

TORNADO WATCH

1.  When the National Weather Service issues a TORNADO WATCH for DeWitt County, the switchboard operator will announce over the in-house/Rural Health Center paging system two (2) times:

“ATTENTION: A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR DEWITT COUNTY UNTIL______AM/PM. THIS IS A PHASE I ANNOUNCEMENT.”

(Note: In the event of a drill, this announcement will be followed by:

“THIS IS A DRILL. THIS IS A DRILL. THIS IS A DRILL.”)

2.  The switchboard will also notify Physical Therapy and make the announcement over the ambulance pager.

3.  Upon hearing an announcement for a “Tornado Watch”, all departments will:

a)  Remove items from window sills.

b)  Close all windows and draperies.

c)  Secure all non-essential items.

In addition, patient care areas will:

a)  Move patient items/supplies to closets or drawers.

b)  Provide all patients with a blanket or bedspread.

c)  Ensure patients have the nurse call button.

d)  Place chairs in hallways.

POLICY AND PROCEDURE – TORNADO RESPONSE

TORNADO WARNING:

1.  When the National Weather Service issues a TORNADO WARNING for DeWitt County or when the tornado sirens have been activated, the switchboard operator will announce over the in-house/Rural Health Center paging system two (2) times:

“ATTENTION: A TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR DEWITT COUNTY UNTIL______A.M./P.M. THIS IS A PHASE II ANNOUNCEMENT.

WILL ALL VISITORS ON THE UPPER LEVEL PLEASE REPORT TO THE NURSES’ STATION. WILL ALL VISITORS ON THE LOWER LEVEL, PLEASE REPORT TO THE X-RAY DEPARTMENT. WILL ALL VISITORS IN THE RURAL HEALTH CENTER PLEASE REPORT TO THE RECEPTIONISTS’ DESK.”

(Note: In the event of a drill, this announcement will be followed by:

“THIS IS A DRILL. THIS IS A DRILL. THIS IS A DRILL.”)

2.  The switchboard will also notify Physical Therapy and make the announcement over the

ambulance pager.

3.  Upon hearing an announcement for a “TORNADO WARNING”, employees will:

a)  Begin moving patients and visitors to designated safe areas away from windows.

b)  Close all doors.

c)  All non-patient care staff will report to a designated safe area.

d)  Do not use the elevators.

e)  No one should remain in the cafeteria or Outpatient Clinic/Rural Health Center waiting rooms.

4. Following the announcement the switchboard operator should take a portable phone and move to the Emergency Room. (See Department Job Action Sheet)

DESIGNATED SAFE AREAS:

All staff, patients and visitors will remain in designated safe areas until the “All Clear” is announced or the National Weather Service Warning time has expired.

UPPER LEVEL:

a)  Assist ambulatory patients to chairs placed in hallways.

b)  Move non-ambulatory patient beds into hallways, when possible.

c)  Move all other patients away from windows and cover with additional linen.

LOWER LEVEL:

Assist patients and visitors to:

a)  Medical Records Ramp

b)  X-Ray Waiting Room

c)  X-Ray Hall

POLICY AND PROCEDURE – TORNADO RESPONSE

RURAL HEALTH CENTER:

Assist patients and family to the inner hallways.

PHYSICAL THERAPY:

Move patients to inner areas of building.

ALL CLEAR:

1.  When the tornado warning expires or the DeWitt County Sheriff’s Department or ESDA confirms an “All Clear” for the DeWitt County/Clinton area, the switchboard operator will announce over the in-house/Rural Health Center paging system two (2) times:

“ATTENTON: WEATHER WARNING, ALL CLEAR”

2.  The switchboard will also notify Physical Therapy and make the announcement over the

ambulance pager.

3.  Upon hearing the “All Clear” announcement, staff will:

a)  Check patient and visitor condition.

b)  Assess for building damage.

c)  If needed, request permission from Administration to activate the Internal or External

Disaster Plan.

DOCUMENTATION: Tornado Response Evaluation Form #51

REFERENCES: Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov)

COPIES SENT TO:

Administration – Original Copy

All Departments

Tornado Preparedness Plan dated 4/93 and 3/99 – Original Dates

Tornado Response – 10/7/04 – Revised

Tornado Response – 07/25/07 - Revised

______

SAFETY OFFICER DATE ADMINISTRATOR/CEO DATE

INITIAL

AND DATE

REVIEWED ______

DEPARTMENT job ACTION SHEET

TORNADO WARNING RESPONSE

All departments should account for employees on duty, patient and visitors.

DEPARTMENT / JOB ACTION/RESPONSIBILITY
Accounting
Administration
Business Office
Housekeeping –lower level
Materials Management
Medical Records
Pharmacy / Move to Medical Records Ramp
Assist visitors as necessary
Personnel or Administrative Assistant / Report to the Med/Surg unit and escort visitors down the stairway to the Medical Records Ramp. Do not use the elevator.
Admitting/Switchboard / Make announcements over intercom
Check for business visitors
Notify Physical Therapy and ambulance of weather watch/warnings
Take portable phone and move to the Emergency Room.
Ambulance
Cardiac Rehab
Housekeeping – upper level
ICU
Maintenance
Medical/Surgical
Nuclear Med
Outpatient Clinic
Respiratory Therapy
SDS
Surgery / Assist with Med/Surg/ICU/Cardiac Rehab and Outpatient Clinic patient relocation.
Ambulatory Outpatient Clinic patients and visitors should be taken to the Medical Records Ramp.
Non-ambulatory or limited mobility Outpatient Clinic patients should be taken to the Med/Surg Nurses’ Station.
All other patients are to be moved to the Med/Surg hallways, if able.
Dietary / Direct visitors from cafeteria to Medical Records Ramp
Emergency Room
Laboratory
X-Ray / Assist patients and visitors to the X-Ray waiting room or hallway
Information Services
RHC / Assist patients and visitors to inner hallways of the building.

Revised 5-29-07

SWITCHBOARD JOB ACTION SHEET

TORNADO WATCH/WARNING RESPONSE

TORNADO WATCH
1. / Announce over the in-house/Rural Health Center paging system two (2) times.
(If a drill is in progress, this announcement must begin and end with:
“THIS IS A DRILL”, repeated three times.)
“ATTENTION: A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR DEWITT COUNTY UNTIL______AM/PM. THIS IS A PHASE I ANNOUNCEMENT.”
“ATTENTION: A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR DEWITT COUNTY UNTIL______AM/PM. THIS IS A PHASE I ANNOUNCEMENT.”
2. / Call Physical Therapy with the Tornado Watch information.
Make the announcement over the ambulance pager.
TORNADO WARNING
1. / Announce over the in-house/Rural Health Center paging system two (2) times.
(If a drill is in progress, this announcement must begin and end with:
“THIS IS A DRILL”, repeated three times.)
“ATTENTION: A TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR DEWITT COUNTY UNTIL______A.M./P.M. THIS IS A PHASE II ANNOUNCEMENT. WILL ALL VISITORS ON THE UPPER LEVEL PLEASE REPORT TO THE NURSES’ STATION. WILL ALL VISITORS ON THE LOWER LEVEL, PLEASE REPORT TO THE X-RAY DEPARTMENT. WILL ALL VISITORS IN THE RURAL HEALTH CENTER PLEASE REPORT TO THE RECEPTIONISTS’ DESK.”
“ATTENTION: A TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR DEWITT COUNTY UNTIL______A.M./P.M. THIS IS A PHASE II ANNOUNCEMENT. WILL ALL VISITORS ON THE UPPER LEVEL PLEASE REPORT TO THE NURSES’ STATION. WILL ALL VISITORS ON THE LOWER LEVEL, PLEASE REPORT TO THE X-RAY DEPARTMENT. WILL ALL VISITORS IN THE RURAL HEALTH CENTER PLEASE REPORT TO THE RECEPTIONISTS’ DESK.”
2. / Call Physical Therapy with the Tornado Warning information.
Make the announcement over the ambulance pager.
3. / Take a portable phone and move to the Emergency Room.
ALL CLEAR
1. / Announce over the in-house/Rural Health Center paging system two (2) times.
(If a drill is in progress, this announcement must begin and end with:
“THIS IS A DRILL”, repeated three times.)
“ATTENTON: WEATHER WARNING, ALL CLEAR.”
“ATTENTON: WEATHER WARNING, ALL CLEAR.”
2. / Call Physical Therapy with the All Clear information.
Make the announcement over the ambulance pager.

Revised 5-29-07