Keeping Children Safe:

1
Keeping Children Safe Disaster Emergency
Planning for Day Care Centers
Adapted from a program titled Keeping Children
Safe Disaster Emergency Planning by the
Department of the Army
2
Overview

• Why have emergency plans?
• What are the components of a plan?
• Who should be included in the plan?
• What resources are available?
• What are some lessons learned?

3
Why Have Emergency Plans?

• Natural disasters
• Terrorism now on U.S. soil
• Increases safety and security of children
• Peace of mind for children, parents and families
• Its required by State regulators

4
What are the steps to developing and maintaining
a Plan?

• Develop
• Monitor
• Implement
• Evaluate

5
Developing a Plan?

• Establish a planning team
• Assess the current situation
• Document existing capabilities
• Identify facilities, financial resources and
  personnel needed
• Develop transportation plans agreements

6
Developing a Plan? (cont.)

• Establish staffing and training
• Determine program needs
• Emergency information for children and staff
• Maintain quality licensing accreditation
• Practice the plan
• Monitor, implement (if necessary) and reevaluate
  the plan

7
Implementing the Plan

• Make the plan official by having it signed by the
  facility director/manager
• Train the staff children on the provisions of
  the plan

8
Monitoring the Plan

• Set schedule for periodic evaluation
• Consider situations that may affect your plan
• Make appropriate changes based on lessons learned

9
Evaluating the Plan

• What worked well? Was plan effective?
• What could have worked better?
• Were the community resources responsive?
• Were the parents satisfied?
• Did staff meet their responsibilities?
• What were the lessons learned by the experience?

10
Some Planning Hints

• Dont change the way you normally do things
• Plan for all-hazards
• Some protective actions will be applicable for
  several hazards
• Make everyone who will have a role aware of the
  plan

11
What do we need to plan for?

• You must
• Decide on a protective action
• Implement the protective action
• Re-unite the children with their families
• Prepare to continue to run the day care facility

12
What do we need to plan for?

• 4 possible protective actions
• Immediate evacuation (fire or intruder)
• Immediate shelter (intruder or tornado)
• Shelter in place (HAZMAT or storms)
• Evacuate to host facility (flood or utility
  outage)

13
The Plan should include

• Contact names phone numbers for
• All staff
• All parents
• Resource providers, esp. transport
• All host facilities
• Copies of written agreements for resources
• List of whos in charge, whos second, third,
  etc.

14
What are somelessons learned from other
planning activities?

• Establish staff relief
• Ensure enough supplies and materials
• Keep family and staff records current
• Keep training current
• Keep ties to resources and referrals

15
lessons learned (cont.)

• Make arrangements in advance for food and water
• Coordinate with police for security
• Keep lists of resources current to help families
  and staff
• Establish plan to arrange for acceptance of
  donations

16
lessons learned (cont.)

• Have immunizations and emergency records on-site
• Plan for emergency transportation
• Involve qualified mental health and other helping
  professionals

17
Crisis Situations Some General Advice from
Experts

• Continually reassure the children that you will
  keep them safe
• Turn off the TV
• Be aware that each childs age will affect his or
  her response
• Calmly express your emotions
• Give the children extra time and attention
• Play with children who cant talk yet

18
Advice from Experts (cont.)

• Keep regular schedules for activities to restore
  a sense of security and normalcy
• Consider how you and your children can help.
  Children are better able to regain their sense of
  power and security f they feel that they can help
  in some way.

19
What are some web resources?

• PEMA www.pema.state.pa.us
• FEMA - www.fema.gov
• Red Cross - www.americanredcross.org
• National Association for the Education of Young
  Children - www.Naeyc.org
• Pa Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics -
  www.paaap.org
• National Association of School Psychologists
• www.nasponline.org