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Have you made sure that parents and staff are involved in your daycare’s emergency planning? When you are starting a daycare business, it’s important to make sure you clients are aware of the procedures and policies that you have in place for emergency situations.

Create a simple “child care emergency plan” for parents. Buy a large 3 ring binder for each family.  Prepare the following forms or information lists:

• The name, address, and phone number of her daycare center
• The location of the predetermined meeting place in the case of an evacuation, such as a park or local shelter
• The location of the daycare’s inside shelter (if applicable)
• The plan or policy (action that will be taken) if the child is sick or hurt during the emergency.
• Copies of the types of forms they will receive such as an accident reports or consent forms.
• The plan or policy (action that will be taken) if the provider is sick

Punch holes in all of the forms. Then put all of the information into the 3 ring binder and distribute the plan to each family.

Don’t forget that daycare emergency and evacuations plans also require preventative measures which reduce the threat of accidents and disasters.  Inform your clients that you have ensured proper maintenance of the daycare whether it is a home daycare or daycare center. Let your clients and potential clients know that you have taken extra care to ensure child safety such as childproofing the facility.

Assure your clients that all staff members are properly trained in first aid and are well prepared for emergencies by maintaining appropriate emergency supplies and regularly performing emergency drills. Update the emergency plan regularly so that parents always have current information in case of emergencies.

Preparation for emergency situations by conducting drills each month. This will help staff and children become familiar with emergency procedures.  Set up emergency scenarios to train staff and teach children the evacuation procedures.  Make sure that staff have an home emergency management plan in place. The family plan should have designated meeting areas and contact phone numbers and should also be taken to the shelter or off-site during  an evacuation.

Child care emergency plans help parents feel secure and reduce legal risk to your child care business.

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Daycare providers are responsible for the health and well being of young children. Your childcare center must be able to keep children safe and daycare providers must be thoroughly prepared for emergency situations like earthquakes. The first 72 hours after a disaster like an earthquake are crucial. The emergency lock down kit should contain the basic survival supplies to get your daycare center through the first 72 hours after any disaster situation.

If you live in the state of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, or Oregon you are at a high risk for an earthquake of magnitude 3.5 or higher to strike. Daycare centers should have the following emergency lock down supplies for a classroom of about 30 children:

Energy food bars (30)

Water Purification Tablets (10)

Individually Packaged Water Pouches (30)

Survival Whistle

Am/FM radio (battery operated)

Batteries

Flashlight

Emergency bright stick

6′ x 8′ Blue Tarp

Roll of Duct Tape

Hand sanitizer

Toilet bags (2 or 3)

Roll of Toilet Paper

Wet Naps or Baby Wipes

Latex-free Gloves

Portable First Aid Kit

Large mylar blanket

Many emergency lock down kits come in a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat lid.

When children are locked down in an emergency situation, they need activities to stay calm and occupied so that you can focus on keeping them safe. When enrolling families in your child day care center, encourage parents to also gather simple entertainment items in a small back pack and keep it in the child’s cubby in case of emergency. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends including the items in a survival activity kit:

• A few of the child’s favorite books
• One or two board games
• A deck of cards
• Crayons, pencils or marking pens and plenty of paper
• Scissors and glue
• Two of the child’s favorite toys such as a doll or action figure
• A puzzle the maximum number of pieces as are developmentally appropriate
• The child’s favorite stuffed animal or puppet
• The child’s favorite blanket or pillow
• Pictures of the child’s family and pet
• A small box with a few treasures that make the child feel special.

In the fall, many preschools and childcare centers are requiring children to purchase a personal back to school emergency kit for about $8 to $10. It contains prepackaged, processed foods that will feed the child for a day or two and are usually sold at your local grocery store.

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Daycare emergency and evacuation plans keep children and staff safe.  Daycare emergency handbooks should contain daycare business information, emergency phone numbers, a parent contact list, an emergency supply list, a childcare provider emergency training log, an emergency practice plan, and a daycare emergency plan for parents.

Emergency Phone Numbers

A daycare emergency plan should maintain current numbers for:

·         Police, fire and ambulance.

·         Local hospital and poison control

·         Public utilities (gas, electricity, and water) along with their 24-hour emergency numbers

·         Emergency management agencies

·         Call letters for local news media (radio and television)

·         Referral numbers for other emergency related organizations such as crime victim services.

Emergency Supply List

Daycare emergency supplies should include:

·         A 3-day supply of water, food, first aid, tools, emergency supplies, clothing and bedding per person.

·         Flashlights with extra batteries

·         Portable radios with extra batteries

·         Manual can opener

·         Gloves, paper towels, and Kleenex

·         Cleanser and disinfectant

·         Hand sanitizer

·         Wet wipes

·         A whistle

·         Disposable Cups

Fire Emergency Plan

Fire is one of the most common hazards.  A fire emergency plan should contain an evacuation procedure. Emergency exits should be clearly marked and fire detectors/smoke detectors and fire extinguishers should be in place and regularly tested.  A fire emergency plan should also include a plan for fire safety training and fire drills. The plan should also outline when and how to evacuate in case of fire and under what conditions staff should attempt to control a fire using extinguishers. Your local fire officials will be able to help you keep current on fire safety.

Emergency Evacuations

Evacuation procedures should be in place and safety drills should be conducted regularly.  The current evacuation plan should be easily accessible and clearly posted. The plan should include at least two unobstructed escape routes. Follow the following general guidelines in the event that an evacuation is necessary:

·         Calmly but quickly assist children to safe predetermined assembly areas.

·         Account for all children as well as staff.

·         Check for and triage injuries.

·         Always leave a note detailing where you have gone if an area evacuation is necessary.

·         Always bring emergency information along with you when evacuating.

Child Care Emergency Plan for Parents

Parents must also be involved in emergency planning. Create a child care emergency plan which provides the following information and distribute it to each family:

·         Daycare name, address, and phone number

·         Location of the predetermined meeting place in the case of an evacuation.

·         Location of the daycare’s inside shelter

·         The plan or policy (action that will be taken) if the child is sick or hurt and forms they will receive such as an accident reports or consent forms.

·         The plan or policy (action that will be taken) if the provider is sick

Daycare emergency and evacuations plans also require preventative measures. This will reduce the threat of accidents and disasters.  Daycare providers must ensure proper maintenance of the facility and take care to ensure child safety. This includes measures which childproof the facility. It is extremely important that all staff members be properly trained in first aid. In addition to having a child care center emergency plan in place, prepare for emergencies by maintaining appropriate emergency supplies and regularly performing emergency drills.

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