Emergency action planning for child care centers

When emergencies or disasters occur, having an emergency action plan for your child care center can put you in a better position to keep children, staff, and other occupants safe. Preparation is an essential element of emergency management. Taking the time to develop a written action plan, train staff members, and conduct practice drills can reduce the potential for injuries, lost children, and other incidents during a crisis.

Some people may think that an emergency action plan is simply a written document to follow when an incident occurs. However, there is little to no time to read lengthy documents in a crisis and knowing how to execute the procedures ahead of time can be the difference between life and death. An effective emergency action plan should include the following:

• A written plan
• Staff training
• Regular practice drills
• Communication with parents and guardians

Written plan development

A formal emergency action plan should be developed as a written document that is easily accessible for child care management and staff members at any given time. The plan serves as a reference for procedures and should drive initial and ongoing training activities. Child care directors or another person in charge of safety administration should review and update the plan at least bi-annually or anytime there is a change affecting the processes and procedures.

Summary of required emergency action plan components outlined by NFPA 101, Life Safety Code:

• Procedures for reporting emergencies
• Emergency response by staff and occupants
• Evacuation, relocation, and shelter-in-place procedures
• Appropriate elevator use
• Fire drill design and conduct
• Building fire protection system type and coverage
• Other items required by the authority having jurisdiction

Staff training

All staff members may receive training in the contents of and executing processes of the written plan at the following intervals:

• When the plan is first implemented
• When an employee is initially hired or assigned to a job
• When an employee’s responsibilities under the plan change
• When the plan is revised due to changes in facility conditions, equipment, or emergency procedures
• At regular intervals as a refresher course (e.g., monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually)

Management and administration should keep records documenting staff training. Data that can be captured include employee names, dates of training, and topics covered.

Regular practice drills

Practicing the procedures detailed in the written emergency action plan will help ensure it is effectively and efficiently executed. Proper execution of emergency response processes in a crisis can be the difference between life and death. Conduct emergency evacuation and response drills regularly, and after completion, evaluate how they went and determine if improvements can be made to the written plan or staff training modules.

Communication with parents and guardians

Parents and guardians of children enrolled at a center experiencing an emergency will be understandably concerned about their child’s safety and wellbeing. Communicating with parents and guardians as soon as it is safe is imperative in a crisis, making it an essential element to include in the emergency action plan.

Despite its importance, communication may not always be an easy task when an emergency occurs. A center with written procedures and guidelines for keeping parents and guardians informed will likely be better positioned to communicate efficiently and effectively. Please seek professional counsel regarding information specific to your center and applicable regulations.

For more information on emergency preparedness for child care programs, click here.

Reference

NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, 2024. NFPA 101 Life Safety Code