Emergency & Evacuation POLICY STATEMENT: Victory OOSH will provide an environment that ensures the safety and wellbeing of the children at all times ( My Time, Our Place 1.1, 3.1). All children and educators will be aware of, and practiced in emergency and evacuation procedures. In the event of an emergency, natural disaster or threats of violence these procedures will be immediately implemented. In implementing the practice sessions of emergency procedures with children, educators will encourage children to discuss possible scenarios where emergency procedures may be required and support children to come up with solutions and ideas for improving on the procedures or discussing ways to avert emergency situations ( My Time, Our Place 4.2). Opportunities for older children to access and use the written emergency procedures to orientate new children prior to an emergency drill will be provided by educators on a regular basis prior to carrying out the emergency drill ( My Time, Our Place 5.1 and 5.2) CONSIDERATIONS: Education and Care Services National Regulations National Quality Standard Other Service policies/documentation r97 2.3 - Parent Handbook - Staff Handbook - Providing a Child Safe Environment Policy - Excursion Policy - Authorisations and Refusals Policy Other - My Time, Our Place Framework - Network OSHC Code of Professional Standards. - Work, Health and Safety Act (2011). PROCEDURE: A risk assessment will be conducted by educators and management annually to review and refine emergency procedures Emergency evacuation procedures and floor plans will be clearly displayed in a prominent position near the main entrance and exit of each room used by the service. All educators, including relief staff, will be informed of the procedure and their specific duties identified in their orientation to the service. Educators will make arrangements as to duties undertaken in the absence of other educators. Educators will discuss the emergency procedures with the children and the reasons for practicing the drills prior to each emergency drill being undertaken. Following each drill, children should be reassured and their suggestions and comments welcomed for how the drill might be improved to provide them with a sense of control and understanding of the process.
Children and educators will practice the emergency procedure at least twice a term, in all types of care, before school, after school and at the beginning of vacation care. All emergency drills will be recorded with date, time and length of time it took to leave building. Additional comments on recommendations for improvements can also be included in the record. Drills will be conducted more regularly when there are new children, so that all children are familiar with the procedure. Families will be informed of the procedure and assembly points in the parent handbook. No child or educator is to collect personal items during an emergency evacuation. This would lead to confusion and delays. Fire extinguishers will be installed and maintained in accordance with Australian Standard 2444. Educators will be instructed in their operation. Educators will only attempt to extinguish fires if the fire is small, there is no threat to their personal safety and they feel confident to operate the extinguisher and all the children have been evacuated from the room. Educators should be aware of bush fire danger and if relevant have appropriate training on the necessary procedures. Services in bush fire prone areas must have a plan. Educators will be nominated to: - Make the announcement to evacuate, identifying where and how. - Collect children s attendance records and families contact numbers. - Collect emergency services numbers. - Make the phone call to 000 or other appropriate service, management and families as required. - Collect the first aid kit. - Check that the building and playground is empty and that all doors and windows are closed as far as possible, to reduce the spread of a fire. - Supervise the children at the assembly area, and take a roll call of children. Educators should be aware of any visitors. When the emergency service arrives, the Coordinator will inform the officer in charge of the nature and location of the emergency and if there is anyone missing. No one should re-enter the building until the officer in charge has said it is safe to do so. HARASSMENT AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE If a person/s known or unknown to the service harasses or makes threats to children or educators at the service, or on an excursion, educators will: Calmly and politely ask them to leave the service or the vicinity of the children. Be firm and clear and remember your primary duty is to the children in your care. If they refuse to leave, explain that it may be necessary to call the police to remove them. If they still do not leave, call the police. If the Coordinator is unable to make the call another educator should be directed to do so. Educators should liaise with team members in advance to determine a code phrase that will alert
another team member to a threat situation arising and prompt them to contact police. (Can you collect all the children and take them to play Eagle) Educators must endeavour to calmly move the children away from the person and encourage this movement by word of mouth transmission between children to move quickly from the area to another safer environment without causing them alarm. No educator should attempt to physically remove the unwelcome person, but try to remain calm and keep the person calm as far as possible and wait for the police. Educators should be aware of any unfamiliar person on the premises and find out what they want as quickly as possible and try to contain them outside the service. CENTRE SPECIFIC INFORMATION: East Evacuation Points The Evacuation point for East is the school basketball court (located behind the school hall where the OOSH service is situated). Where this is not safe the secondary point is the sports oval across on Bula Street (across the road from the service). Total evacuation from school property is at Charlestown Central Leagues Club. An evacuation plan will be displayed at the centre. This plan includes details of: Routes of leaving the building. Where fire extinguishers are located Emergency assembly points. List of current emergency numbers. List of evacuation items to be collected and by whom Procedures A. Alarm The first staff member who notices a danger is to sound the alarm by blowing a whistle three times. Whistles are located in the top pocket of the suitcase and on top of the filing cabinet. B. Evacuation/Emergency Refer to the appropriate evacuation procedure below. C. Notification Coordinator to notify emergency services and other stakeholders Evacuation
The alarm is raised- Whistle is blown three times: Children are directed immediately from area of greatest danger and to the appropriate evacuation point. If possible the danger area is to be contained (i.e. close door) on leaving. One staff member moves with children calmly and quickly to the evacuation point Another staff member usher the children towards the appropriate emergency exit and ensures all children have exited the building, as well as collecting the roll and emergency kit Children are to be reminded to leave their belongings behind. All other staff members are notified and directed to check areas, gather children and meet at the evacuation point. In the case of using the secondary emergency area (across the road from the school) one staff member is to proceed immediately to end of pathway adjacent to Bula Street. Another staff member gathers all children from main area and ushers them towards the door and to the gate. The children are assisted to cross the road quickly, safely and calmly. The coordinator (or person in charge) is to ensure the phone and roll and whistle [repeat alarm during evacuation], emergency details and first aid kit are collected and that all staff are aware of the action to be taken. The assistant coordinator/supervisor (2ic) is to ensure that all areas are checked on leaving (Toilets blocks, in store rooms, under tables etc.) where it is safe to do so. Check the storage container and close all doors on the way if possible and proceed to the evacuation area. At this point the roll is to be marked and children and staff accounted for. If, after checking roll, it is suspected that someone may be still on the premises, the coordinator shall consider options for re-entry and search. The coordinator shall determine by communication with Emergency Services or inspection, when the premises are safe for re-entry Parents are to be contacted to arrange the collection of their children. Lock Down Please note that this evacuation plan is to be followed after every rational and calm means of asking the intruder to leave have failed Staff member who first notices the intruder/s must let other staff know immediately. DO NOT BLOW THE EMERGENCY WHISTLE, instead use the code phrase. If it is not possible to simply close off the hall before the intruder is in the nearby area the following action should be taken. Staff members must remove all children from vicinity/room in a quiet calm manner out the back EXIT door of the hall. Depending on the level of risk children can be asked to sit quietly on the basketball court at the back of the hall, OR they can be taken down to Charlestown Central Leagues club in the case of needing to be removed from the premise. Other staff members to direct children outside to the same evacuation point.
Remind children to walk and leave their personal items behind. The coordinator (or person in charge) is to keep eye line with the threat and where safe to do so encourage them to leave. The assistant coordinator (2ic) is to contact the police, collect the roll and emergency kit, arrange for all areas to be checked for children and close all areas off where possible. Give roll and emergency kit to staff, ensure safety of all children and staff and proceed back to coordinator. When the threat is removed the children are to be taken inside and debriefed before returning to their activities. Other Emergency Situations Some emergencies may require persons to remain inside the service until further notice. These include Bush fire, severe storms and flooding. The coordinator (or person in charge) will make a decision regarding the appropriate course of action during these events. Collect roll and ensure all children are safely inside and close large hall door where safe to do so. If the hall is unsafe consider removing all children to Charlestown Central Leagues Club. Coordinator to contact appropriate emergency services Staff will attempt to contact the parents/guardians of any children in the centre to arrange collection or explain the situation. Staff to contact management and their own families where required In the event of having to remain in the centre until emergency services arrive staff will ensure that those at the centre are safe and comfortable. When possible arrange with parent/guardians for the collection of children and the closure of the centre.
Dudley Evacuation Points The Evacuation point for Dudley is the school field (located down past the school hall where the OOSH service is situated). In the case of total evacuation from school the children are to walk to the shops across the road from the school to be picked up and taken to Charlestown East PS. (Bush Fire Plan). An evacuation plan will be displayed at the centre. This plan includes details of: Procedure Routes of leaving the building. Where fire extinguishers are located Emergency assembly points. List of current emergency numbers. List of evacuation items to be collected and by whom Alarm The first staff member who notices a danger is to sound the alarm by blowing a whistle three times. Whistles are located in the top pocket of the suitcase and on top of the filing cabinet. Evacuation/Emergency Refer to the appropriate evacuation procedure below. Notification Coordinator to notify emergency services and other stakeholders Evacuation The alarm is raised- Whistle is blown three times: Children are directed immediately from area of greatest danger to the appropriate evacuation point. If possible the danger area is to be contained (i.e. close door) on leaving. One staff member moves with children calmly and quickly to the evacuation point The coordinator and other staff member usher the children towards the appropriate emergency exit and ensure all children have exited the building, as well as collecting the roll and emergency kit Children are to be reminded to leave their belongings behind. Coordinator to check areas, including bathrooms and gather children then meet at the evacuation point.
In the case of using the secondary emergency area (across the road from the school) one staff member is to proceed immediately to end of pathway with children. The coordinator and other staff member gather all remaining children and ushers them towards the gate. When the children are together they are assisted to cross the road quickly, safely and calmly. The coordinator (or person in charge) is to ensure the phone and roll and whistle [repeat alarm during evacuation], emergency details and first aid kit are collected and that all staff are aware of the action to be taken. Additionally the coordinator is to ensure all areas are checked on leaving (Toilets blocks, in store rooms, under tables etc.) where it is safe to do so. Check the storage container and close all doors on the way if possible and proceed to the evacuation area. This can be conducted by a different staff member where possible. At this point the roll is to be marked and children and staff accounted for. If, after checking roll, it is suspected that someone may be still on the premises, the coordinator shall consider options for re-entry and search. The coordinator shall determine by communication with Emergency Services or inspection, when the premises are safe for re-entry. Parents are then to be contacted to arrange the collection of their children. Lock Down Please note that this evacuation plan is to be followed after every rational and calm means of asking the intruder to leave have failed Staff member who first notices the intruder/s must let other staff know immediately. DO NOT BLOW THE EMERGENCY WHISTLE. Children are to be instructed to go and sit on the stage in a quiet and calm manner and all hall doors to be closed and locked. One staff member to remain at a door until all children and staff are inside and the door is locked. The roll is to be checked and children accounted for. The coordinator (or person in charge) is to keep eye line with the threat from within the hall and where safe to do so encourage them to leave. They are to contact the police and contact parents/caregivers where necessary to inform them of the situation and advise alternative collection arrangements. Other Emergency Situations Some emergencies may require persons to remain inside the service until further notice. These include severe storms, flooding and bush fires.
The coordinator (or person in charge) will make a decision regarding the appropriate course of action during these events. If total evacuation is required (bush fire) the East is service is to be contacted and the children to be picked up from the shops Alternatively if at the centre collect roll and ensure all children are safely inside and close doors where safe to do so. Coordinator to contact appropriate emergency services Staff will attempt to contact the parents/guardians of any children in the centre to arrange collection or explain the situation. Staff to contact management and their own families where required In the event of having to remain in the centre until emergency services arrive staff will ensure that those at the centre are safe and comfortable. When possible arrange with parent/guardians for the collection of children and the closure of the centre. Review Date: November 2015