Center COMAR 13A.16.10 Safety .01 Emergency Safety Requirements. A
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Center COMAR 13A.16.10 Safety .01 Emergency Safety Requirements. A. Emergency and Disaster Plan. (1) At least one center employee shall: (a) Complete emergency preparedness training that is approved by the office; and (b) As part of the approved emergency preparedness training, prepare a written emergency and disaster plan for the center. (2) The operator shall maintain the emergency and disaster plan prepared in accordance with § A(1)(b) of this regulation. (3) The emergency and disaster plan shall: (a) Establish procedures for: (i) Evacuating the center, including an evacuation route; (ii) Relocating staff and children to a designated safe site; (iii) Sheltering in place in the event that evacuation is not feasible; (iv) Notifying parents of children in care; and (v) Addressing the individual needs of children, including children with special needs; (b) Contain: (i) The name of, and contact information for the local emergency operations center; (ii) Assignment of staff responsibilities during an emergency or disaster; (iii) A list of local emergency services numbers; and (iv) The radio station call sign and frequency for the local Emergency Alert System; (c) Be practiced by staff and children at least: (i) Once per month for fire evacuation; and (ii) Twice per year for other emergency and disaster situations; and (d) Be updated at least annually. (4) A copy of the emergency escape route floor plan shall be posted in each area and room in the center. (5) Each employee shall be oriented to the contents of the written emergency and disaster plan required at §A(2) of this regulation. (6) In the event of a declared emergency, the operator shall be prepared to respond as directed by the local emergency management agency through sources of public information. (7) During an emergency evacuation or practice, a staff member shall take attendance records out of the center and determine the presence of each child currently in attendance. B. If the child care center is included within a comprehensive emergency and disaster plan, the center operator shall ensure that: (1) The comprehensive plan contents meet all emergency and disaster plan requirements set forth at §A(2)(a) and (b) of this regulation; and (2) A copy of the comprehensive plan is available to all staff. C. An operator shall post, immediately accessible to each telephone in the center, a notice stating the: (1) 9-1-1 emergency telephone number to summon fire, police, and rescue services; (2) Center's name, address, and telephone number; (3) Telephone number of the protective services unit of the local department of social services; (4) Telephone number of a poison control center; (5) Name and telephone number of the local health department or a physician to consult about issues regarding health and illnesses; (6) Name and telephone number of the available adult as required by COMAR 13A.16.08.02D(3); and (7) Telephone number of the office. COMAR 13A.15.10 Child Safety .01 Emergency Safety. The provider or substitute shall: A. Prepare and maintain a written emergency and disaster plan that: (1) Establishes procedures for: (a) Evacuating the home, including an evacuation route; (b) Relocating children to a designated safe site; (c) Sheltering in place in the event that evacuation is not feasible; (d) Notifying parents of children in care; and (e) Addressing the individual needs of children, including children with special needs; (2) Contains: (a) The name of, and contact information for, the local emergency operations center; (b) A list of local emergency services numbers; and (c) The radio station call sign and frequency for the local Emergency Alert System (EAS); (3) Is practiced with children at least: (a) Once per month for fire evacuation purposes; (b) Twice per year for other emergency and disaster situations; (c) If overnight care is provided, at least four times per year when children in overnight care are present; and (4) Is updated at least annually; B. Post conspicuously a copy of the emergency escape route floor plan: (1) In or near the approved child care area; and (2) If overnight care is provided, in each room where a child in care is sleeping; C. Regularly orient children, who are old enough to understand, in procedures to be used in the event of a fire or other emergency requiring escape from the home; D. Train each substitute and, if applicable, the additional adult on the contents of the written emergency and disaster plan required at §B of this regulation; E. In the event of a declared emergency, be prepared to respond as directed by the local emergency management agency through sources of public information; F. During an emergency evacuation or practice, take attendance records out of the home and verify the presence of each child currently in attendance; G. Instruct children in the use of the 9-1-1 telephone number to summon help in an emergency; and H. Meet the following requirements for first aid supplies: (1) Maintain first aid supplies as the office requires in a location that is readily accessible to the areas of the home approved for child care; (2) Store first aid supplies in a manner that makes them inaccessible to children in care; and (3) Bring the first aid supplies along on any activity away from the family child care home. Emergency Preparedness Plan Sample Letter of Agreement with Emergency Evacuation Site Letter of Agreement between (name of child care center) and (name of emergency evacuation site) to serve as an emergency evacuation site for child care children and staff. Information about Child Care Facility Information about Evacuation Site Name of facility Name of facility Address Address Telephone number Telephone number(s) Name of contact person(s) Name of contact person(s) Hours of operation Number of children and staff potentially evacuating Hours of operation Driving directions from child care center to evacuation facility: (Attach map with directions from child care center to evacuation facility to this agreement) Check off items that the evacuation site will provide in an emergency: Water Food Transportation Telephone People to assist Other (name of evacuation facility) agrees to serve as an emergency evacuation site for (name of child care center) Signatures Authorized Evacuation Site Representative Date Child Care Center Director Date Signed copies of this agreement should be kept on file at both the child care center and the emergency evacuation site. Emergency Preparedness Plan Sample Emergency Preparedness Letter to Parents Give to parents every year and to new parents as they enter your program Name of Child Care Center: Date letter distributed: Dear Parents, Our child care center’s philosophy is to keep your child(ren) safe at all times when he/she is in our care. With recent world and local events, we have developed an emergency plan that will be put into place in the event that special circumstances require a different type of care. Plans for these special types of care are reviewed annually. Staff is trained in the appropriate response and local emergency management is aware of these plans. The specific type of emergency will guide where and what special care will be provided. • Shelter at the site – This plan would be put into place in the event of a weather emergency or unsafe outside conditions or threats. In this plan, children will be cared for indoors at the center and the center may be secured or locked to restrict entry. Parents will be notified if they need to pick up their child before their regular time. • Evacuation to another site – This plan would be put into place in the event that it is not safe for the children to remain at the center. In this situation, staff has predetermined alternate sites for care. The choice of site is determined by the specific emergency and what would be an appropriate alternate site. • Method to contact parents – In the event of an emergency, parents will be called, a note will be placed on the door, and radio/TV stations will be alerted to provide more specific information. You can also check for information on our website www.xxxxxxxxx or call our main office at xxx-xxx-xxxx. Depending on the distance from the center, the children will walk if feasible or be transported to the alternate site. • Emergency ends/reuniting with children – When the emergency ends, parents will be informed and reunited with their children as soon as possible. The contact methods listed above will be used to inform parents. The purpose for sharing this information with you is not to cause you worry, but to reassure you that we are prepared to handle all types of emergencies in a way that will ensure the safety of your child(ren). In the event of an actual emergency, please do not call the center – it will be important to keep the lines open. If you have questions regarding this information, talk with the center director or your child’s teacher. Sincerely, (Signature of Child Care Center Director) Signed copies of this agreement should be kept on file at both the child care center and the emergency evacuation site. HAZARD ASSESSMENT 1. Think of a natural or manmade emergency that you might have to deal with at your child care program. _____________________________________________________________ 2. Think about your physical building both inside and outside. a. Are there things that pose a safety threat inside? ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ b. Are there things that pose a safety threat outside? ________________________________________________________