How to Establish an Emergency Program for Your Daycare

Establishing an emergency program for your daycare is a must to ensure that you're prepared for any situation that may arise. A plan that meets the particular needs of your facility can be the difference between a smooth operation and a chaotic disaster.

Essentially, you should have an emergency plan that:

· Outlines procedures to tackle all hazards and natural disasters.

· Clarifies the roles and responsibilities for different types of emergencies.

· Involves local emergency responders.

· Abides by safety regulations and codes, including the International Fire Code.

As a rule of thumb, you must follow the guidelines below when establishing an emergency program for your daycare.

1. Create Emergency Contact Forms

When it comes to daycare emergencies, there are many things to think about: What happens if a child has a seizure? Is there a way for children and staff members who can't drive themselves home? What should happen if someone becomes ill or injured? Are there procedures in place for when parents need to be called?

The right approach to tackling these questions starts with creating emergency contact forms.

These forms should include the following:

· The child's information

· Details of parents/guardians

· Emergency contacts

· Medical information of the child

· Physician information

With all of this information in one place, you won't have staff members panicking when it's time to reach out to their parents, inform emergency contacts, or reduce the pain or suffering of a child.

Lucky for you, we also have a downloadable Medication Authorization Log, Accident Reports 1 & 2, and Infant Daily Report to help you streamline things. This will help you keep families informed of their children's daily progress.

2. Prepare an Emergency Kit

All daycare centers need a portable kit that can instantly be brought to the emergency site. You must appoint a dependable worker to keep it stocked with first-aid and essential tools. They should be able to retrieve it as soon as a problematic situation arises.

All other members must know where the kit is placed and how to use it, so everyone is prepared for anything that might happen. Additionally, everyone should be able to operate the fire extinguisher to prevent delays in implementing emergency procedures.

3. Form a Crisis Response Team

It's not uncommon for daycare staff members to freak out and lose focus of the emergency plan when an unexpected crisis hits the facility. That's why you must have a crisis response time to provide an added layer of security in an emergency.

Make sure the team members know their roles and responsibilities, so they feel more confident tackling the problem. Assign a few people to take care of the children. Some members could be responsible for contacting parents and getting outside help, while others can focus on managing the situation.

The crisis response team must be trained to act in an emergency, so they don't panic. Everyone should have a copy of the emergency plan to refer to in various situations.

4. Develop an Evacuation Plan

Next, create a detailed evacuation plan for your daycare center so that people immediately know where to go to escape danger.

All staff members should know exactly what to do when they hear the emergency bells ringing—escorting students into a designated area where everyone can stay until it's safe to return to the classrooms.

5. Conduct Training Sessions and Emergency Drills

When it comes to preparing for emergencies, no amount of training or drills is enough. This is because each situation is unique and requires a different response.

Like traditional educational institutions, daycare centers must conduct training classes, workshops, and emergency drills to ensure everyone knows how to identify the signals for different emergencies and respond appropriately.

Emergency drills can be for fire accidents, extreme weather conditions, and lockdowns, among other emergencies. They allow staff members and children to practice where to go and what to do when seeking shelter.

Make sure everyone takes the training sessions and drills seriously. Let the children know that it's okay to feel afraid in an unexpected situation and that their teachers and other staff members will be there to protect them.

The Bottom Line

Emergencies can happen at any time, requiring everyone to respond almost automatically to ensure safety.

As a daycare provider, you're expected to keep all children safe at all times. This means you need a detailed plan to prevent harm and casualties in emergencies.

Before creating an emergency program for your daycare center, make sure your safety policies are up-to-date and you have filled out emergency contact forms. Always have a fully stocked emergency kit at hand and clearly convey each member's roles and responsibilities.

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