Revised 11/2010

BURRUS GROUP HOME EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN I.

Emergency Supply Inventory List Burrus Group Home emergency supply inventory will include at minimum the following items: 1. Operable flashlights or battery lanterns 2. Supplemental charged batteries 3. A battery-charged radio 4. Stocked First Aid Kit 5. Supplemental First Aid Supplies as needed 6. Tape for windows 7. In-date fire extinguishers 8. 3 day supply of food 9. 24 hour supply of bottled water 10. Blankets 11. Emergency medical information for each resident 12. Portable containers for priority medical supplies in case of evacuation

II.

Disaster and Emergency Procedures

Disaster and other emergency procedures are as follows: 1. Severe Weather In the event that severe weather causes Piedmont Community Services offices to close, Burrus Group Home Staff will be notified. However, any staff already on duty is required to stay on duty until relieved by another qualified staff member. All scheduled staff must report to work if possible. In the event that scheduled staff is unable to get to the work site unscheduled staff may be asked to report to work. Meetings and appointments missed due to inclement weather will be rescheduled. Procedures for Severe Weather and Earthquake a.

b. c.

In the event of severe weather/earthquake conditions, the group home staff will assist everyone to get in a protected area like a doorway or under secure furniture. Group home staff will place outdoor material not anchored i.e. chairs, indoors. Group home staff would tape windows to reduce flying glass.

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d. e.

f. g. h. i. j.

Group home staff would turn off water and gas at main valves and appliances. Group home staff would check for broken water pipes, leaking fuel. If severe weather conditions warrant it, the group home staff would alert authorities (911, supervisor, regional coordinator, on-call manager). Group home staff would safe guard records, data files, and client health supply needs. If severe weather conditions warrant it, group home staff would conduct an evacuation of the building, including a head count. If an actual emergency occurred at the group home, the group home staff would assist/assess those staff members/individuals who may be trapped, injured or with special needs. Group home staff, home manager and regional coordinator would make the determination to relocate residents to emergency shelter. They would also discuss transportation options

2. Loss of Utilities If utilities are lost at night, Burrus Staff should immediately go to residents and reassure them. Conduct them to a safe, central location in the house (unless residents are already asleep) using emergency flashlights. Staff should call American Electric Power to report the outage at 1-800956-4237. If power will be out for more than 8 hours, notify supervisor or regional coordinator or on-call manager for further instructions. 3. Missing Persons Burrus House staff should know the whereabouts of the group home residents at all times. Alarms on the doors should be activated any time that only one staff person is on duty. If a door alarm sounds, the lone staff person should immediately investigate to determine whether or not a resident left the house or if someone came in. Any time that a resident is taken on an outing or a visit by any one other than a PCS employee, staff should attain the time and place and return time of the resident, as well as a phone number where the resident will be. Staff should write the information in the logbook for in-coming staff. If a resident cannot be found, a thorough search of the house and yard should ensue. If the resident is not on the group home property, staff should call the police and the supervisor. Police should be supplied with a picture and accurate description of the resident. Staff should keep the other residents calm and stay near the phone in case someone calls with information or in case the 2

resident returns to the house. If more than one staff member is on duty, the one should assist police in the search while the other stays with residents. 4. Severe Injury In the event of a severe injury, the first staff person on the scene should: a. Secure the immediate area making sure it is safe for both the victim and the staff members who will assist. b. Notify the rescue squad (911) c. Use CPR or First Aide skills as needed d. Request assistance from others in the building until professional help arrives e. Document the event using appropriate Piedmont Community Services policies and procedures. 5. Emergency Evacuations Follow the same procedure as evacuation due to fire. 6. Fire Drill Procedure Prior to the Fire Drill: a. Schedule monthly fire drills alternating time of drill per 8 hour shifts. b. Establish assembly points outside the house. c. Establish secondary means of egress depending of location of possible fires d. Assign responsibilities: • Person(s) to evacuate clients with special needs • Person(s) to close doors, windows, and other fire barriers • Person(s) to ensure complete evacuation of building • During an Actual Fire: In the event of fire or other emergency, the person first discovering the fire shall alert others in the immediate area in a loud clear voice and by pulling the closest fire alarm. If possible, the fire should be put out with the fire extinguisher or other means available. If the fire cannot be easily extinguished staff should: a. Pull the fire alarm to notify house occupants to evacuate the building (read instructions by fire box for drill procedure if using alarm). b. Dial 911 to make sure that the fire pull station alerted the local fire department.

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c. d. e. f. g. h.

Evacuate the building Check all rooms for occupants Help special needs people evacuate Close doors and windows Once outside, take a head count Assess need to relocate from assembly point for safety reasons

After the actual Fire event: a. b. c. d.

Return to building Assess damages with assistance of Piedmont staff & fire department staff Return fire alarm system to working mode (if the unit is not damaged by the fire) Document results of the fire as instructed to do so by Piedmont supervisors

7. Training in Fire Procedures The group home manager is responsible for developing a workable fire evacuation plan that complies with PCS and licensing guidelines. The group home manager is responsible for making sure each new employee is trained in fire and emergency preparedness plans on their first day at work. The manager is also responsible for making sure that staff conducts and participates in periodic emergency drills. 8. Safety Inspections of Equipment and Building The group home manager is responsible for making sure that there are monthly inspections of the fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and emergency flashlights. Fire extinguishers should be professionally inspected annually and affixed with dated tags. Monthly inspections should be documented and the records kept for 2 years. Fire Drill Records should contain: a. b. c. d. e.

Date and time of drill Amount of time needed to evacuate the building Number of residents participating Number of residents not participating Signatures of the staff participating

9. Poison Control In the event of an accidental poisoning, call the poison control number listed beside every house telephone.

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10. Use of Vehicles Any transportation provided for clients by Burrus Group Home, directly or through contract, will be in compliance with state and federal laws relating to vehicle safety and maintenance, licensure of vehicles, and licensure of drivers.

11. Control of Deviant or Criminal Behavior Burrus Group Home staff will take all reasonable precautions to assure that no client is exposed to or instigates such behavior as might be physically or emotionally injurious to himself or another person. 12. Critical Incident All incidents deemed critical will be reported following the guidelines set out by Piedmont Community Services Policy and Procedures. A copy of these procedures may be found in the addendum of this manual. 13. Death of a Resident If staff comes upon an apparently unconscious resident, he or she should call 911 and begin CPR/First Aid procedures as authorized. If the rescue squad determines the resident dead, they will call the coroner and the police. The coroner will pronounce the resident dead and at that time the body can be removed to the hospital. Once the death certificate is signed, the body will be released to a funeral home. Staff should notify the resident manager or the regional coordinator or the oncall manager as soon as the rescue squad is called. Once death is pronounced, the family or legal guardian, clergy, if appropriate, and the Executive Director of Piedmont Community Services will be notified. The Executive Director will notify the Piedmont Community Services Board members and the Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Substance Abuse. In the event that a resident does not have family or it is not possible to locate next of kin, Piedmont Community Services will make funeral arrangements. A copy of the death certificate will be placed in the resident’s record. An

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autopsy might be performed at the request of or with the permission of the next of kin. The autopsy findings will be available to the family. A copy of the autopsy report will be placed in the resident’s record. A detailed incident report will be completed by all staff members involved in the death and/or the discovery of the death.

Revised 11/2010

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