Library: Policy

340:110-3-279. Emergency preparedness

Revised 6-1-22

(a) Emergency plans and procedures.

(1) General. The program is required to have emergency plans that are:

(A) individualized to the program and operating hours;

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

(2) Situations. Emergency plans include procedures for:

(A) serious injuries;

(B) serious illnesses;

(D) communicable disease outbreaks, including pandemic influenza;

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

(F) fires, including wildfires;

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

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

(I) lost or abducted children;

(J) utility disruption; and

(K) other natural or man-made disasters that could create facility structural damage or pose health hazards.

(3) Child considerations. Emergency plans include procedures for addressing each child's needs, with additional considerations for children:

(A) 2 years of age and younger; and

(B) with special needs or chronic medical conditions.

(4) Account for children. Emergency plans include procedures to account for each child's location during an emergency.

(5) Shelter-in-place. Emergency plans include shelter-in-place procedures for short and extended stay situations requiring children stay in the building, such as tornados and other weather emergencies.

(6) Lock-down. Emergency plans include lock-down procedures for situations threatening children and personnel's safety. Lock-down procedures include:

(A) notifying personnel;

(B) keeping children in designated safe locations in the building;

(D) securing building entrances;

(E) preventing unauthorized individuals from entering the building. When the program is in a shared facility, program entrances are secured; and

(F) responding when outdoors and on field trips.

(7) Evacuation. Emergency plans include evacuation procedures for situations requiring children leave the building, such as building fires. Evacuation procedures include:

(A) evacuation routes posted, per OAC 340:110-3-281.1(c) and (i); and

(B) pre-determined meeting locations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(10) Personnel. Emergency plans include procedures ensuring personnel are familiar with:

(A) current emergency plans and procedures, including roles and responsibilities in an emergency;

(B) location of:

(i) emergency plans and procedures;

(ii) posted emergency information; and

(iii) first aid and emergency supply kits; and

(b) Phones.

(1) On-site. The program provides an operable phone, per OAC 340:110-3-300(x).

(2) Off-site activities. An operable phone is available, per OAC 340:110-3-287(g).

(3) Vehicles. An operable phone is available, per OAC 340:110-3-305(e).

(1) Program information and emergency numbers. Items are posted, per OAC 340:110-3-281.1(d) and (i).

(2) First aid kit, emergency supply kit, and fire extinguisher locations. Locations are posted, per OAC 340:110-3-281.1(i).

(3) Evacuation routes. Routes are posted, per OAC 340:110-3-281.1(c) and (i).

(d) First aid kits.

(1) Location. First aid kits are located in each building and in vehicles when transporting children.

(2) Accessibility. First aid kits are accessible to personnel at all times and inaccessible to children.

(3) Replace. First aid kit supplies are replaced as needed, including expired items.

(4) Sanitary. First aid kit supplies are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner, including sanitizing re-usable supplies.

(5) Supplies. First aid kit supplies are stored together in a portable container.

(A) Supplies at least include:

(i) non-medicated adhesive strips;

(ii) sterile gauze pads;

(iii) rolled flexible or stretch gauze;

(iv) bandage tape;

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

(vi) blunt-tipped scissors;

(vii) tweezers;

(viii) a non-glass and non-mercury thermometer. The appropriate thermometer and method are used, per OAC 340:110-3-294(d);

(ix) a current first aid guide; and

(x) a copy of posted program information and emergency numbers, per (c) of this Section.

(B) In addition, the first aid kits in vehicles at least include:

(i) a cold pack;

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

(iii) hand sanitizer and moist, disposable towelettes, for hand hygiene;

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

(v) a pen or pencil and note pad.

(e) Emergency supply kit.

(1) Records. Records available during an emergency at least include the:

(A) emergency plans and procedures, per OAC 340:110-3-281.2(c), and alternate location addresses, phone numbers, and contacts;

(B) emergency contacts, per OAC 340:110-3-281.2(c); and

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

(A) a first aid kit; and

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

(f) Testing and maintaining emergency equipment.

(1) Individual smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. When the facility is equipped, per OAC 340:110-3-300(t) or (u), individual alarms are:

(A) operable; and

(B) tested at least monthly. Documentation is maintained, per OAC 340:110-3-281.2(c).

(2) Central detection and alarm system for smoke and carbon monoxide. When the facility is equipped, per OAC 340:110-3-300(v), the system is:

(A) fully functional;

(B) checked at least monthly by viewing the control panel and documented, per OAC 340:110-3-281.2(c). However, monthly checks are not required when a company monitors the system continuously for full-function as documented, per OAC 340:110-3-281.2(c); and

(3) Fire extinguishers and automatic sprinkler systems. Fire extinguishers and automatic sprinkler systems are:

(A) fully functional; and

(B) inspected and tagged at least every 12 months by a state licensed authority.

(g) Drills and reviews.

(1) General. Drills and reviews are documented, per OAC 340:110-3-281.2(c), and drills are conducted:

(A) at various times throughout operation hours, such as morning, mid-day, afternoon, and evening, so children and personnel in attendance at various times are involved in each type of drill at least once every three months;

(B) by following pre-determined emergency plans and procedures; and

(i) Monthly. Monthly drills include:

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

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

(ii) Annual. Annual drills include:

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

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

(III) sheltering-in-place, requiring children stay inside the facility, such as tornados and other weather emergencies; and

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

(2) Lock-down and relocation procedures reviews. Personnel review the procedures at least once every 12 months.

(3) Emergency plans and procedures reviews. The director updates, when necessary, and reviews emergency plans and procedures:

(A) at least once every 12 months;

(B) when enrolling children with special needs or chronic medical conditions;

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