Review & Update Your Emergency Plan

0:00 (fire alarm) (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.

0:45 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 And now the emergency plan that you carefully considered and wrote a year ago is outdated and needs to change.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.

1:31 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

2:17 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.

3:02 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

3:48 so everyone is prepared and knows what to do if an emergency occurs. (music)