Library: Policy

340:110-3-86.1. Emergency preparedness

Revised 6-1-22

(a) General. All caregivers are familiar with emergency plans and procedures. Written plans and procedures are:

(1) developed by the primary caregiver;

(2) maintained on site;

(3) individualized to the program and operating hours; and

(4) followed, unless children's safety is at risk or emergency personnel provide alternative instructions during an emergency.

(b) Emergency medical care plans. Emergency medical care plans include:

(1) a planned source of medical care, such as a hospital emergency room, clinic, or other medical facility or physician acceptable to parents; and

(2) available emergency transportation.

(c) Situations. Emergency plans and procedures are maintained in a readily available and portable manner and include procedures for:

(1) serious injuries;

(2) serious illnesses;

(3) poison exposure;

(4) communicable disease outbreaks, including pandemic influenza;

(5) weather conditions, including tornados, floods, blizzards, and ice storms;

(6) fires, including wildfires;

(7) man-made disasters, including chemical and industrial accidents;

(8) human threats, including individuals with threatening behaviors, bomb threats, and terrorist attacks;

(9) lost or abducted children;

(10) other natural or man-made disasters that could create facility structural damage or pose health hazards; and

(11) utility disruption.

(d) Child location and considerations. Emergency plans include procedures:

(1) accounting for each child's location during an emergency; and

(2) addressing each child's considerations, with additional considerations for children:

(A) 2 years of age and younger; and

(B) with special needs or chronic medical conditions.

(e) Shelter-in-place. Emergency plans include procedures for short and extended stay situations requiring children stay inside the home, such as tornados or other weather emergencies.

(f) Lock-down. Emergency plans and procedures for situations threatening children and adults' safety include:

(1) notifying adults present in the home;

(2) keeping children in designated safe locations inside the home;

(3) encouraging children to remain calm and quiet;

(4) securing home entrances;

(5) preventing unauthorized individuals from entering the home; and

(6) responding when outdoors and on field trips.

(g) Evacuation. Emergency plans include procedures for situations, such as a fire, requiring children leave the home and meet at pre-determined locations.

(h) Relocation. Emergency plans include procedures for situations requiring children move to an alternate location, such as bomb threats and wildfires, and include:

(1) pre-determined primary and secondary alternate locations, with prior approval from the contact individual at alternate locations;

(2) relocating children, including a pre-determined transportation plan; and

(3) reuniting parents and children.

(i) Reporting. Emergency plans include procedures for notifying:

(1) emergency authorities, including the poison control center, when necessary;

(2) parents, including a method and backup method for how and when parents are notified; and

(3) Licensing.

(j) Posted emergency information. Emergency information posted next to the phone or in a prominent place includes:

(1) the home's address;

(2) a licensed physician or clinic;

(3) the fire department;

(4) the police department;

(5) poison control, 1-800-222-1222; and

(6) a substitute caregiver.

(k) First aid supplies. First aid supplies are available but made inaccessible to children. Supplies are stored together in a portable container.

(1) Supplies in the home at least include:

(A) non-glass, non-mercury thermometer;

(B) disposable non-porous, latex-free gloves;

(D) tweezers;

(E) bandage tape;

(F) sterile gauze pads;

(G) rolled flexible or stretch gauze;

(H) non-medicated adhesive strips; and

(I) current first aid guide.

(2) In addition, the first aid supplies in vehicles at least include:

(A) a cold pack;

(B) liquid soap and water or individually packaged moist, disposable towelettes for cleaning wounds;

(D) plastic bags for disposal of items contaminated with blood or other body fluids; and

(E) a pen or pencil and note pad.

(l) Poisoning. The caregiver immediately contacts poison control, 1-800-222-1222, with any suspected child poisonings.

(m) Emergency supply kit. Records and supplies available during an emergency include:

(1) Emergency records. Records at least include the:

(A) emergency plans and procedures, alternate location addresses, phone numbers, and contacts;

(B) emergency contacts for all caregivers and enrolled children; and

(2) Emergency supplies. Supplies gathered at the time of an emergency or maintained in a portable container at all times at least include:

(A) first aid supplies; and

(B) children's prescribed medications, including life-threatening condition medications.

(n) Drills. Drills are conducted, documented, and follow the pre-determined emergency plans and procedures.

(1) Monthly. Monthly drills include:

(A) fire drills conducted by evacuating and meeting at pre-determined locations; and

(B) tornado drills conducted by sheltering in pre-determined on-site locations.

(2) Annual. Annual drills conducted include:

(A) locking-down by sheltering in pre-determined on-site locations;

(B) relocating according to preparation procedures but physical relocation is not required;

(D) evacuating and meeting at pre-determined locations.

(o) Emergency plans and procedures reviews. The primary caregiver updates, when necessary, and reviews emergency plans and procedures:

(1) at least once every 12 months;

(2) when children with special needs or chronic medical conditions enroll;

(3) after a drill when procedural issues are identified; and

(4) after an emergency, as identified in this Section.