9.1 emergency evacuation procedure

DOCUMENT NUMBER & TITLE QA2_9.1. Emergency Evacuation Procedure DATE PUBLISHED March 2018 DOCUMENT VERSION V2.0 REVISION DUE DATE March 2020 APPROVED BY: Kellie Perren – Chief Executive Officer

Warning – uncontrolled when printed. This document is current at the time of printed.

©Story House Early Learning

9.1 Emergency Evacuation Procedure Quality Area 2: CHILDREN’S HEALTH & SAFETY Standard 2.3 Each child is protected Standard 2.3.2 Every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from hard and any

hazard likely to cause injury Standard 2.3.3 Plans to effectively manage incidents and emergencies are developed in

consultation with relevant authorities, practices and implemented

Regulation 97 Policies and procedures in relation to emergency and evacuation Regulation 98 Emergency evacuation procedures Regulation 168 Telephone or other communication equipment

PURPOSE

It is vital that if an emergency situation arises, it is handled effectively and with consideration for all involved. Supporting Educators and children with an emergency situation requires vigilant planning and consistent implementation.

Effective management of emergency situations provides an opportunity to help support and build on children’s coping mechanisms and resilience.

SCOPE

This procedure applies to all children, educators, visitors and management of the Service

IMPLEMENTATION

Service Manager /Nominated Supervisor/ Responsible person will: • Maintain an up-to-date and register of emergency telephone numbers that must be taken in an

emergency or evacuation that is to be located in the emergency evacuation bag • Maintain the contents of the emergency evacuation bag and ensure these are positioned in a

location that is accessible in the service. The bag should contain: - Torch - Batteries - Gloves - Tissues - Nappies and wipes - Bottle of water - Disposable cups - First Aid kit - Children’s emergency contact numbers - Staff emergency contact numbers

• Ensure educators and staff have ready access to emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers and fire blankets, and that staff are adequately trained in their use

• Collect children’s medication at the time of evacuation • Maintain the emergency cot ensuring it is in good condition and allows for easy access




• Complete a risk assessment to identify potential emergencies that are relevant to the service

• Ensure educators and staff have ready access to an operating telephone or similar means of communication and that emergency telephone numbers are displayed near telephones

• Ensure the emergency evacuation procedures and floor plan are displayed in a prominent position near each exit and that all staff and educators are aware of these

• Ensure that all staff are trained in the emergency evacuation procedures • Ensure that all staff are aware of emergency evacuation points • Ensure that families are regularly reminded of the emergency procedures in place at the service • Ensure that the evacuation procedures are in accordance with the evacuation floor plan • Ensure that staff are aware of when scheduled emergency evacuations drills are to take place • Ensure that spontaneous rehearsals also take place to ensure staff participate in the simulation

of an unplanned, emergency evacuation events • Ensure emergency evacuation events are rehearsed at least every three months • Record and evaluate the drill on the Emergency Evacuation Rehearsal Record and place a copy

on display for families • Discuss emergency evacuation procedures with educators during staff meetings and determine

relevant service specific information such as lockdown locations • Ensure that all fire extinguishers are inspected and tested every 6 months and recorded on the

label or metal tag attached to the unit • Report any serious incident to the regulatory authority within 24hours where emergency

services have attended the service in response to an emergency situation • Develop service specific protocols for multi-story services that clearly outlines the roles and

responsibilities each educator has in safely evacuating children from each level of the building

Educators will: • Have discussion with children about emergencies and procedures as part of the ongoing

educational program • Follow the direction of the Service Manager and emergency personnel • In the event of an evacuation:

- Ring the alarm/blow a whistle and call 000 stating the location and details of the emergency

- Collect attendance records - Evacuate all of the children in a calm manner according to the evacuation plan - Check children against attendance records - Remain calm and supervise the children, ensuring their safety at all times - Administer first aid to any injuries - Follow the advice provided by the emergency services and other allocated personnel - Contact parents to collect their child if safe to do so - Maintain correct staff: child ratios

• Refer to details below for emergency specific information:




Fire Emergency:

In the event of fire, educators will: • Use the RACE procedure recommended by the fire service:

- Remove – everyone from immediate danger - Alarm – raise the alarm (blow the whistle) and ring the fire brigade (000) - Contain – The fire by closing the doors and windows if safe to do so - Evacuate – to the emergency assembly point and make sure that all persons are

accounted for • Extinguish the fire if safe to do so • Contact parents to collect their children (if possible) • Do not re-enter the building unless authorised to do so

Storm Emergency:

In the event of a storm, educators will: • Move all persons to the strongest part of the building (bathroom, internal door way or hall) • Unplug electrical appliances • Tape windows and glass doors with an X pattern using masking tape • Phone the SES if needed using a mobile phone • Do not use the land line during a storm

Lockdown Emergency:

In the event of a lockdown, educators will: • Lock all doors and windows • Keep all children inside in areas that have been designated for each room • Keep the children as quiet and calm as possible • Only leave the lockdown area once instructed to do so

Additional information for multi-story services: Our multi-story services have the children’s rooms located on the top or the bottom floors or across multiple levels. The service should ensure that the procedure is used to meet the design of their building and follow the service specific protocol. In general terms:

• In the event of an emergency, do not use the service lifts • Ensure the stairs are used with the children regularly, to ensure they have practice with the

stairs and in the event of an emergency • Educate the children to walk up or down the stairs in single file, on the left-hand side of the

stairwell, encouraging the children to hold the handrail whilst walking up or down the stairs • Ensure one educator is at the front of the group, one educator walking alongside the children

up or down the stairs and then an educator at the back of the group – last educator sweeping the vacant floor to ensure all children have evacuated the building

• Educators are to check that the stairs are always clear of obstructions • Ensure there is a specific evacuation plan in place for any non-ambulant children in attendance

Additional information for Victorian Services




Victoria has a number of fire-prone areas where there is a higher risk of bushfire activity. Centre-based services located in these areas are placed on the Department’s Bushfire at Risk Register (BARR) Services on the BARR will ensure that on any day declared to be a Code Red day for the region in which the service is located, that it will close and remain closed for the duration of the Code Red Day. Services will submit their current emergency management plan annually to their relevant regulatory authority regional office by 21 November.

9.1 emergency evacuation procedure

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