FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev.

0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in ECED 102 Health, Nutrition and Safety Module No. 8

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 8

EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

MODULE OVERVIEW

Emergencies can happen any time. Being prepared for potential emergencies can help you keep children
safe and stay calm during stressful situations. This lesson will focus on helping you plan, organize, and
practice evacuation/ emergency procedures in advance. This includes contingency procedures such as
tornadoes, terrorist threats, epidemics, and other emergencies.

Natural disasters, illnesses, injuries, or threats of violence can shatter the daily routine of a child care
program. As teachers and caregivers, it is our job to keep children safe during these difficult events. We can
also be a resource and comfort to families and communities that are struggling.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, you should have:

1. identified the most common types of injuries in young children;
2. explained policies and procedures for preventing and responding to emergencies; and
3. prepared a disaster response plan.

LEARNING CONTENTS

Types of Emergencies and Knowing Your Risk

One of the first steps in responding to emergencies is understanding the types of disasters that might
affect you and the children in your care.
From time to time, unusual events happen that require you to respond quickly. If there is the potential for
injury, harm, or loss of life, these events are emergencies. Emergencies might affect your classroom,
program, local area, region, or the entire country. Examples of emergencies that typically affect child
development programs are:

 Injuries: Children and staff may experience bodily harm while in your program. This may result
from falls, accidents, or contact with poisonous substances.
 Inclement weather: Snow, ice, or extreme heat can impact the safety of children and families.
 Technology failure: Electricity or water outages can impact the way your program operates.
 Missing child: This type of emergency occurs when a child leaves or is taken from the program
without authorization.

When emergencies are more severe, affect a larger number of people, or present a stronger risk, they
can be thought of as disasters. Disasters come in all shapes and sizes. The type of disaster you are likely to
encounter depends on the many characteristics of the region in which you live. There are several types of
disasters that might affect child care programs:
1. Natural disasters: This type of disaster includes flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, forest
fires, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, or other similar events.
2. Technological: This type of disaster includes explosions, nuclear fallout, severe power or gas
outages, drinking water shortages, oil spills, or fires.
3. Terrorism: This type of disaster includes acts of violence or threats of violence against individuals or
groups. Examples may include bombings, shootings, kidnappings, hijacking, or use of biological
weapons.
4. Illness or epidemic: This type of disaster involves the rapid spread of severe, potentially deadly
illnesses like the flu.
It is important for you and your team to understand the types of emergencies you are likely to face. Certain
natural disasters, in particular, are more likely to affect certain regions of the country or world.

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Study Guide in ECED 102 Health, Nutrition and Safety Module No. 8

It is also important to remember that not all emergencies are disasters. It is very likely that your program
will experience common emergencies like inclement weather, failure of electricity or water, or injuries on the
playground. You must be prepared to respond to all emergencies large and small.

Making a Plan

The most important thing you can do to prepare for an emergency is make a plan. This plan should
be in writing. All staff and families should know about the plan.

Your plan helps you answer questions like:

 Where will children be relocated?
 Have alternate sites been identified and arranged in advance?
 How will you relocate children if emergency occurred during normal operating hours?
 How will parents be notified?
 What are individual staff member responsibilities?
Your emergency plan may also contain information about the following situations:
 Evacuation plans: You need to know where to go in the event of a tornado, fire, earthquake, or other
natural disaster. You also need to have a plan for how and where you will transport children if your
area is evacuated for flooding, technological disasters, or other reasons. These plans should be
posted in the classroom.
 Shelter in place plans: You need to know what to do if administrators or government officials order
individuals to take shelter. This is the likely response to a terrorist threat, a shooter in the vicinity, risky
weather conditions, or other unsafe conditions. While sheltered in place, you will not be allowed to
leave the building and others will not be allowed to enter the building. Shelter in place plans should be
posted in the classroom. As part of this plan, your team should also have a way of communicating
that teams must take shelter and communicating with one another while sheltered in place. Unsafe
situations may make it impossible to move about the building.
 Lock-down plans: You need to know what to do if your classroom is ordered to lock down.
Lockdowns occur in the event of an unknown intruder or active shooter. You must know how to lock
and barricade your doors and procedures for supervising children.
 Communicating with other staff: Disaster can strike at any time. Know the chain of communication
for emergencies and have updated staff phone rosters at home. You need to know how you will
contact your administrator if you cannot come to work. You also need to know how you will find out if
your program is closed or relocated due to disasters. Remember telephone lines may be affected by
emergencies. Administrators or others may consider leaving an outgoing message on their answering
machines or voice mails and communicating via the media.
 Communicating with families: You need to know how you will communicate with families if you and
the children are evacuated to another location. How will you let families know where they can find
their children? It is also important to know how you will let families know if your program is forced to
close. Part of the plan should include who will contact families, what will be communicated,
and how ratio will be maintained.

Practicing Your Plan

Once a plan is in place, practicing it can help relieve anxiety and help you feel prepared should the real
event occur. It can also help you and the children remain calm in the face of disaster. Remember to always
take your sign-in sheet, emergency medications, and emergency contact information with you during all
evacuations and practices. Your evacuation plans (fire, tornado, lockdown) should be practiced at least
monthly. Other emergency plans should be practiced at least yearly. Review of your emergency plan and
evacuation plan must be included in new employee orientation and training.

Disasters can happen anytime and anywhere. It is important to be prepared. Print out the  Creating a Kit
Activity. Fill it out based on your program. Share your responses with your supervisor or coach. Then compare
your answers to the suggested responses.

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 2

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Study Guide in ECED 102 Health, Nutrition and Safety Module No. 8

Creating a Kit Activity

1. What items might you like to have in your emergency kit if: Children have to shelter in place for 2-3
hours for a tornado warning?
a. What will staff need in the kit?
Food, water, flashlight, weather radio, first aid kit, extra batteries, medications,
emergency medications, cell phone with charger, emergency blanket, extra cash, copies
of emergency documents (contact information), roster.
b. What will children need in the kit?
Food, water, coloring books or games/ activities, emergency contact information,
emergency medications, hygiene items
c. Where should the kit be located in your classroom or program?
Responses will vary.

2. What items might you like to have in your emergency kit if: Your program has to evacuate the
building due to a fire?
a. What will staff need in the kit?
Roster, water, food, flashlight, batteries, first aid kit, emergency medications, copies of
emergency documents (contact information), copy of emergency plan (meet-up
locations), blanket.
b. What will children need in the kit?
Food, water, coloring books or games/ activities, emergency contact information,
emergency medications, hygiene items, perhaps a few pieces of warm clothes.
c. Where should the kit be located in your classroom or program?
Responses will vary.

3. What items might you like to have in your emergency kit if: Your program is put on lockdown during
a field trip, and you cannot re-enter your facility?
a. What will staff need in the kit?
Emergency contact information, first aid kit, emergency medications, emergency plan
(meet-up locations and alternative facilities), cell phone with charger, extra cash, maps
of area, emergency blanket.
b. What will children need in the kit?
Snacks, water, games or activities.
c. Where should the kit be located in your classroom or program?
Responses will vary.

4. Points to Remember:
a. Practice taking your kit with you during drills.
b. Know where to go during emergencies: know your program’s meeting places and
shelter locations.

Use these forms to help you prepare and respond to emergency situations. Print the forms and complete
the information that you need. Store the forms in your emergency kit.

Preparing Your Emergency Kit

Every family should have an emergency kit. This is true of child development programs, as well. Consider
the following checklist. Which items should you have in your classroom’s emergency kit?
From the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org):
At a minimum, have the basic supplies listed below. Keep supplies in an easy-to-carry emergency
preparedness kit that you can use at home or take with you in case you must evacuate.
 Water—one gallon per person, per day (3 day supply for evacuation, 2 week supply for home)
 Food—nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items (3 day supply for evacuation, 2 week supply for
home)
 Flashlight
 Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 3

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Study Guide in ECED 102 Health, Nutrition and Safety Module No. 8

 Extra batteries
 First aid kit
 Medications (7 day supply) and medical items
 Multipurpose tool
 Sealed packages of antiseptic for cleaning
 Small plastic or metal splints
 Emergency medication for children with special health care needs
 Sanitation and personal hygiene items
 Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of
address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
 Cell phone with chargers
 Family and emergency contact information
 Extra cash
 Emergency blanket
 Map(s) of the area

Consider the needs of all family members and add supplies to your kit. Suggested items to help meet
additional needs are:
 Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)
 Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
 Games and activities for children
 Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
 Two-way radios
 Extra set of car keys and house keys
 Manual can opener

Additional supplies to keep at home or in your kit based on the types of disasters common to your area:
 Whistle
 N95 or surgical masks
 Matches
 Rain gear
 Towels
 Work gloves
 Tools/supplies for securing your home
 Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
 Plastic sheeting
 Duct tape
 Scissors
 Household liquid bleach
 Entertainment items
 Blankets or sleeping bags

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Prepare a First Aid Flip chart to describe what to do in case of an injury when a child is in your care

SUMMARY

Many children under the age of five spend their daytime hours away from their parents. Most of these
children are in a child care center/child care home. Emergencies occurring during hours of operation require
pre planning. It is vital that every child care center/child care home take steps to ensure the safety of these
children and be prepared to meet their needs when disaster occurs. Comprehensive written disaster plans
that outline the policies and procedures that child care staff will follow during a disaster will assist
centers/homes with meeting the needs of children and staff during an emergency incident.

REFERENCES

https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/emergencies/em2002chap4.pdf

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 4

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Study Guide in ECED 102 Health, Nutrition and Safety Module No. 8

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/254883/9789241511827-
eng.pdf;jsessionid=411619A5D51DD4C9D9FE8CE4FD1BD005?sequence=1
https://www.unisdr.org/files/2909_Disasterpreparednessforeffectiveresponse.pdf
https://emergency.yale.edu/be-prepared/classroom-preparedness
https://www.epactnetwork.com/corp/blog/emergencies-in-schools/

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 5