Occupant Emergency Plans (OEPs)

It is recommended that the Child Care Center be prominently mentioned in the OEP.  This mention should be in the very beginning in the building description.  It should also be in the appendix as a separate section devoted entirely to the Child Care Center.  Finally, the Child Care Center appendix should be in the Table of Contents and/or index.  Additional inclusions are welcome. 

It is strongly suggested to use an abridged version of the appendix as a hands-on guide for each teacher at a center to use in an emergency.  It should also be included in the emergency bag with the daily roster.

Boldfaced items in the following template need to be made site specific.

This document is meant to be a template for use by GSA Child Care Centers.  It is designed to be clear and simple while providing all necessary information.  This is not a required document although substitutes shall be reviewed by the Regional Child Care coordinator to insure clarity, simplicity and completeness.  Acceptable substitutes shall be forwarded to the Office of Child Care.

This template is also intended for the use of any and all other groups who might find it useful.


APPENDIX A


EVACUATION PLAN FOR A CHILD CARE CENTER

The objective of this plan is to reduce the possibility of harm to the children, facility and visitors to the Center in the event of an emergency. Care must be taken to ensure that all occupants are aware of the following basic procedures:

1. Become familiar with the location of all stairways and exits (EVACUATION ROUTES ARE POSTED IN EACH CLASSROOM).

2. Become familiar with the location of the nearest building fire alarm manual pull stations and their operation.

3. Faculty should not attempt to secure or recover items of clothing or personal property after an alarm has sounded.

4. Upon direction/instruction of the Child Care Director or designee, immediately evacuate the building upon hearing the building alarm or being notified by Security Personnel.  Proceed to the safe haven/assembly area located ENTER AN APPROPRIATE, DETAILED ADDRESS/LOCATION.  Take attendance and immediately proceed to the Safe Haven as directed by the Center Director or designee. Each classroom should take an emergency bag with emergency information folder during an evacuation.  Once at the Safe Haven, the Director, in consultation with the Command Center (enter phone number) will determine if parents should be notified and/or asked to pickup children.  The decision to have parents pick up their children will be made based on expected time out of the Center or the nature of the emergency.  In case of emergencies that do not warrant evacuation onto the street (natural disasters [tornadoes, for example], chemical spills, bombings, etc.), proceed to ENTER AN APPROPRIATE, DETAILED ADDRESS/LOCATION.

5. In each classroom an evacuations diagram will be posted indicating the following:
    a. Primary and secondary routes
    b. Locations of the assembly areas
    c. Fire Alarm Manual Pull stations
    d. Fire extinguishers
    e. Fire detection and suppression devices
       1. Smoke detectors
       2. Heat detectors
       3. Sprinkler heads
       4. Sprinkler control valve

6. The Director will assign a staff member/Safety Coordinator to inspect the Center each morning to ensure the following:
     a. All exit doors are unlocked and accessible to Center occupants
     b. All exit lights are working properly
     c. All corridors and doors leading to exits are clear
     d. There are no decorations hanging from sprinkler
         heads of fire alarm devices
     f. Fire alarm devices and sprinkler heads are not obstructed
     g. All signs are in place and up to date

7. All faculty members will be advised of proper fire protection and evacuation practices.

8. Fire drills will be conducted monthly.  The building manager’s office must be notified of each drill.  A command center representative or a representative of the building manager should attend.  The director shall keep a record of all drills.

9. In case of emergency or drill, all personnel should leave the building in an orderly manner - Walk, Don’t Run.  The faculty should search their rooms in the Center, closing all doors before leaving.  Additionally the Director or other assigned personnel will search all areas within the Center and ensure that all occupants have been safely evacuated.  The Faculty is instructed to refuse assistance from anyone not previously identified as a support person.  This does not include Federal Protective Service Police or emergency personnel.

10. Physically challenged children will be provided with assistance to help them exit the building.  Infants will be evacuated in designated evacuation cribs.  Evacuation supplies for the Center shall be located under each evacuation crib.   

11. At the assembly area, the faculty shall immediately take a head count of each classroom group to ensure that everyone is present and accounted for. Head Teachers shall report the final head count to the Director or designee. Names of any missing children or missing personnel must be given to the Command Center.

12. Parents will not be allowed to remove a child from the custody of the center during the evacuation.  Once all children are accounted for parents may be allowed to sign out their children.

SAFE HAVENS:

PRIMARY:  OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION
123 Main Street
Washington, DC
1 block east and 2 blocks south

SECONDARY:   DEPARTMEMT OF INTERIOR
456 Main Street
Washington, DC
4 blocks west

TERTIARY:   BRIGHT HORIZONS CHILDREN’S CNTR  
90 Depot Road
Washington, DC
5 blocks north and I block west


IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:


CONTROL CENTER                        (212) 555-5555
CENTER                                        (212) 666-6666
OFF SITE EMERGENCY                 (313) 777-7777
KEY GSA CONTACT                       (414) 888-8888
KEY GSA ALTERNATE                   (515) 999-9999


ABRIDGED VERSION -- HANDS-ON GUIDE

Evacuation Procedures -- Hands-On Guide

A “Safe Haven” will be used for each evacuation.  The selection of that Safe Haven will depend on many factors (type of emergency, threat (natural disasters [tornadoes, for example], chemical spills, bombings), wind direction, expected level of assistance, etc.) and may include Shelter in Place (in the building).  The procedures for evacuation and the sites are listed below and will be familiar to staff as a result of repeated training and frequent drills.

EVACUATION PLAN FOR A CHILD CARE CENTER
1. Upon direction/instruction of the designated Lead Center Representative, immediately evacuate the center upon hearing the building alarm OR being notified by Security Personnel.  Take attendance and immediately proceed to the designated Safe Haven.  Take an emergency bag with the emergency information folder.
2. All personnel should leave the building in an orderly manner - Walk, Don’t Run.  Classroom personnel should search their rooms and close all doors before leaving.  Director or Lead Center Representative will search all areas within the Center and ensure that all occupants have been safely evacuated.  The classroom personnel shall take a head count of each group to ensure that everyone is present and accounted for.  Give names of any missing children/personnel to the Lead Center Representative (LCR).
3. All personnel are to refuse assistance from anyone not previously identified as a support person (not including Federal Protective Service Police or emergency personnel).
4. No one should reenter the center.
5. Assist physically challenged children during this procedure.  Evacuate infants in designated evacuation cribs equipped with emergency supplies.
6. At the Safe Haven, the classroom personnel shall take a head count of each group to ensure that everyone is present and accounted for.  Give names of any missing children/personnel to the Lead Center Representative (LCR).  The LCR will give this information to the available Designated Emergency Personnel.
7. Parents will not be allowed to remove a child from the group during the evacuation.  Parents may follow sign out procedures at the Safe Haven.
8. Once at the designated Safe Haven, as soon as it is safely possible, the Lead Center Representative, in consultation with the Designated Emergency Personnel, will notify the parents.  The LCR will then and determine if parents should be asked to pickup the children.  The decision to have parents pick up their children will be made based on expected time out of the Center and/or the nature of the emergency.


SAFE HAVENS:
Primary - Towards the river:  OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION
123 Main Street
Washington, DC
1 block east and 2 blocks south

Secondary - Downtown:   DEPARTMEMT OF INTERIOR
456 Main Street
Washington, DC
4 blocks west

Alternate - Uptown:   BRIGHT HORIZONS CHILDREN’S CNTR
90 Depot Road
Washington, DC
5 blocks north and I block west

In place (Shelter in Place):   Second Floor in this building Room 2-126

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:

CONTROL CENTER                        (212) 555-5555
CENTER                                        (212) 666-6666
OFF SITE EMERGENCY                 (313) 777-7777
KEY GSA CONTACT                       (414) 888-8888
KEY GSA ALTERNATE                   (515) 999-9999


*  Lead Center Representative  Senior center employee – generally Director or Assistant but could be anyone
** Designated Emergency Personnel Ranking, available emergency personnel – May change depending on situation

 

Last Reviewed 3/6/2009