Page 7 - Demo
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PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES
Preparing for an emergency can reduce the risks of an emergency and help alleviate fear and anxiety. Preparedness activities such as regularly conducting drills for different types of emergencies are extremely critical and beneficial in responding to the disaster. As you practice these drills take into consideration that in a real emergency you may not have utilities such as water or the telephone and you may be dealing with circumstances such as extreme heat. Regularly practicing drills will:
• Help you respond to an emergency until first responders can assist you
• Help children and staff cope and remain safe during and after an emergency
• Enable you to resume your business more quickly
DRILLS
Drills are practices or run-throughs with the children and staff of your program to make sure everyone understands their roles during an emergency. Drills will help you respond more quickly, safely and appropriately to an emergency and also reduce fear and panic during a real event.
Conduct an announced, well-planned fire drill early in the school year so children and teachers can be well- prepared. Be sure to also practice unannounced drills as they provide more realistic responses from teachers as well as children and will help you see if there are parts of your plan that need more practice and planning. Reinforce what is learned during drills through songs, stories and dramatic play. Children react calmly when they are prepared, and when their caregivers also react calmly.
Although California Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) requires child care facilities to conduct drills at least once every 6 months, it is strongly recommended that you practice emergency drills more frequently.
The more children and staff practice drills, the more calm they will be during an emergency. Hold drills at different times of the day, while children are in different rooms or outdoors, during different activities including naps. The Disaster Planning Self-Assessment Guide is a planning tool from CCLD that provides basic disaster preparedness and emergency information to licensed child care facilities. This tool can be found at www.ccld.ca.gov.
Every child care program should practice the following drills:
1. Fire Drill
This drill should include a demonstration of the fire alarm and a reminder of available exits.
Children and staff should participate in the practice of crawling out of the building on hands and knees in case smoke fills the room as well as Stop, Drop and Roll. Contact your local fire department to provide on-site information. Staff should know locations of fire extinguishers and be trained regularly how to properly use them. A drill is a good time to replace the batteries and test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
2. Earthquake Drill
Children and staff should participate in the practice of Drop! Cover! and Hold On! The drill should include what happens after the shaking stops, including assessing the building and the outdoors for safety. Evacuations may be needed if the building is unsafe. Use a checklist to make sure your child care facility is earthquake ready. An Earthquake Preparedness Checklist (LIC 9148) is required in California and can be found on the CCLD website and at www.ccld.ca.gov.
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