www.hh.net.nz Essential Emergency and Security Systems Supporting and Complimenting the Home s Fire Evacuation Scheme POLICY: To optimise emergency readiness REFERENCE: NZS 8143: 2002 NB: Management is supported by the external consultancy [including the Fire Department] and the Health & Safety Representatives in Emergency Planning. AIMS: To establish and ensure training in emergency procedures for all staff To assess hazards within the building & outside and to control these Hazards. FIRE Senior person on All staff at induction & At 3 monthly duty 6 monthly refreshers Service Evacuation Map: This map is prominently displayed in the Home and shows where fire fighting equipment and exits are. New residents and staff are made familiar with the Maps when first arriving at the home, and for staff, before commencing work. External assembly areas are marked on the Evacuation Maps. Disability Register: The Evacuation Map has ALL resident names written on it in their respective rooms this serves as the Disability Register. Keeping the Register current is the responsibility of the Manager or their delegate and is and an essential part of Resident Entry & Exit documentation. Fire Warden Instructions: The senior person on duty is the Fire Warden. Copies of the Fire warden Resource Manual are available to staff, residents & visitors. Fire Action Notices are displayed in prominent places, by Fire Fighting Equipment and at the entry. It is more likely that smoke will be SEEN or SMELLED rather than a fire discovered. Page 1 of 8
Fire Alarm Call Points: These are located throughout the Home in small red wall mounted boxes. YES NO If you are first to find a fire SEEING / SMELLING SMOKE break the glass to activate. Use a shoe or other object so avoid cutting yourself. The alarm will automatically summon the Fire Service if the Home is monitored. Otherwise ring.. and SAY: FIRE EMERGENCY..RESIDENTIAL CARE CITY YOU ARE IN SUBURB IN THE CITY.. STREET NAME. STREET NUMBER Training Principals If you SEE or SMELL smoke: 1. Look for the cause include power points 2. If fire or lots of smoke then ACTIVATE ALARM 3. Close all the doors & windows in that area, if it is safe to do so. 4. Consider evacuation to the next fire cell 5. Call (Fire Service) on: state number If you SEE fire: 1. Take people from immediate danger fittest first / most frail last! 2. Close [fire] doors 3. Activate alarm 4. Evacuate to next safe fire cell 5. 9-111 call (Fire Service) KEY POINTS Evacuate people nearest fire first Do not risk your life while evacuating Evacuate AWAY from the fire If safe, close the doors nearest the fire If safe, turn off electricity near stove fire Sprinklers are activated by fire HEAT Page 2 of 8
The Fire Evacuation Point is: Fire Fighting Equipment: Extinguishers: You are NOT obliged to fight fire. Only try if certain you can extinguish the fire. 1. Unclip from holder 2. Use upright 3. Pull out safety pin [it won t come out if you are squeezing the handles hard]. 4. Aim at base of flames and sweep across the flames from side to side. 5. Squeeze handles 6. Keep going until the fire is out or it is empty. Fire Blanket: We have a Fire Blanket hanging on the wall in the kitchen. YES NO Use: It should be placed over a fire to smother the flames. [Hold in a way to protect yourself as you place it]. After the fire is out 1. If the Fire Department is called wait and obey their instructions 2. Make sure the Manager knows 3. Contact all resident s next of kin to reassure them [it is a good idea to have an up to date list of their phone numbers as part of the Evacuation Register. Flood Call Manager At Induction Annual Policy Key Points for Devastating Floods: BE PREPARED Have sufficient stores of fresh water - Do not drink flood water Have sufficient supplies of stored food Have battery powered radios Follow civil defense instructions Turn off electricity to flooded areas Evacuate from any affected areas Protect records and equipment from flood waters / rain if possible. Keep drains clear if possible Page 3 of 8
LOSS WATER supply Call Manager At Induction Annual Policy Key Points: 1. Are mains water taps turned on? 2. Are plumbers at work with mains water turned off? 3. Ring the council to find out why your water is off. 4. Do not use water supply. 5. Do not flush toilets. 6. Sources of water in an emergency: - Emergency water bottles store - Emergency water tanks - Urns - Water coolers When water comes back on: 1. Tell the Manager 2. BEWARE taps left on - avoid flooding! POWER Call Manager At Induction Annual Policy FAIURE We have emergency lighting YES NO 1. Torches and spare batteries are kept... 2. Tell the Manager 3. If the power is off for more than 20 minutes ring the power supplier and ask how long we can expect it to be out. 4. Reassure residents keep together is one area, as practical. 5. Use food that does not need cooking use stores of food if necessary. Once the power is on again tell the Manager. Check on each and every resident to make sure they are OK. Page 4 of 8
EARTHQUAKE TSUNAMI Senior person on duty At Induction Annual Policy Key Points: Get under a desk, stand in a solid doorway or lie beside a large solid object and hold on. Keep away from glass and movable objects. Senior Staff member responsibility: 1. Organise staff to help residents. 2. Try and account for everyone, report the degree of injury suffered. 3. Access the emergency first aid supply and give first aid if needed. 4. Ring emergency services for help as needed. 5. Contact resident next of kin form the Disability register, as appropriate. 6. Evacuate if too dangerous to stay inside the building. 7. Or, be aware that due to the robust nature of the building, civil defense may see the Home as a mini congregation and emergency point. 8. Listen to the radio for instructions. 9. Access emergency, water and food supplies. 10. Think about rationing. The nearest Civil Defense Post will help as quickly as they are able. Help may also come from local people. Ask the Senior person on duty before accepting help. If this person is hurt, then turn to the next Senior or next most Robust person. After the Earthquake After a severe earthquake we might be unable to get help for some time. We may have to look after ourselves for food, water and first aid. 1. Assess the injured 2. Treat the injured. 3. Assess the damage to the building - Assume all wires are live - BEWARE water close to wires - Beware hazards in the building ceilings, walls, floors. - BEWARE glass and sharp metal objects Page 5 of 8
Staff Training includes Civil Defense Situations [every two years]: - this includes earthquake & tsunami, flood & hurricane - this training is part of Module Two Emergency Situations - assessments of knowledge accompany the training INTRUDER Senior person on duty. Key Points: That no staff member or resident is harmed. - The intruder may want medications At Induction & with Challenging Behaviour training - The intruder may have taken some kinds of drugs - The intruder may be there to steal something Annual Policy - The intruder may believe they have a right to be there as a visitor but be behaving in a scary way. Call the Manager as soon as the intruder has left the building. Call the Manager or the police while the intruder is still in the building only if it is safe to do so. Write down: When it happened What person looked like(race, height, weight, hair colour, length, style, etc) What they were wearing / jewellery What they said - tone of voice and any accent Which way they went if in a vehicle, describe it. After intruder leaves Tell Manager / call police [as appropriate] Treat any one harmed Check on residents Witnesses need to write their own observations on a piece of paper immediately WITHOUT discussion with others, as sensible. Stay until police have arrived & do not touch anything that was disturbed. Page 6 of 8
Other Intruders If simply trespassing, ask to leave. Tell the senior person on duty. Watch that they actually leave the premises. If they refuse to leave, call the police immediately. Fill in an Incident Form. The afternoon and night team leaders are responsible for checking the security lighting & security of the building [All doors and windows secure]. Note on the Building Maintenance Log any repairs and give them an ASAP time frame for the repair. Night staff need to observe PM staff safely to their vehicles. All drugs are kept securely, according to the Safe Management of Medicines Guide for Managers of Old People's Homes and Residential Care Facilities. MALICIOUS CALLS Call Manager At Induction Annual Policy DEFINITION: Repeat calls where the caller does not speak Verbal threats, suggestions or rudeness Heavy breathing Such calls are recorded on the Accident / Incident Form and reported to the telephone company. 1. Write down the time of the call this must be accurate. 2. Write down what concerned you / what was said / not said. 3. Write down: - If male or female, - accent, - background noise - any other information about the caller 4. Tell a Manager. Telephone companies will track such calls and give advice. Page 7 of 8
BOMB THREAT Key Points: Call Manager At Induction Annual Policy 1. Note down where the bomb is supposed to be 2. Any other information given e.g. detonation time 3. Write down: - If male or female, - accent, - background noise 4. Immediately call the police on 111 and follow their directions DEBRIEFING All staff / residents involved in any of the above incidents should be offered appropriate debriefing by management. It is recognised that some incidents are traumatizing and where staff / residents show signs that they have suffered emotional trauma appropriate counseling services will be made available by the Home. WORKING AT NIGHT WORKING AT NIGHT Know who and how to call for help. Less staff are required on night shift. When beginning the night shift look around the entire building: 1. To ensure that all residents in your care are safe and comfortable 2. To ensure that the building is secure. 3. Be familiar with the list of emergency numbers in the office so that you can access it at short notice. 4. When leaving on an afternoon shift have another staff member see you to your car if it is not close to the exit of the building. Bring your car closer in the early evening when parks become available to reduce distances walked alone in darkness. Page 8 of 8