With all the devastating natural disasters in the news recently now seems a perfect time to make sure our childcare businesses are ready in case of an emergency. Even if you think you are ready for an emergency, you need to read this to make sure your childcare is ready in case of a disaster. Let’s talk about disaster planning for childcares.
But other than the basics, how do you develop an emergency/disaster plan for your childcare? Today I will review resources for a Basic Disaster Plan, printables, and How to make an Emergency Kit for childcare. All of the resources are FREE even the downloadable forms.
Developing an Emergency/Disaster Plan for Childcare
It is usually standard as part of the licensing procedure to have the provider prepare an emergency plan. Most providers are required to log a plan in the event of an emergency.
The plan should include having an alternate meeting location (such as a nearby school), having the children’s emergency contact information handy, and having enough food & first aid supplies for an extended amount of time.
Guide for Disaster Planning for Childcares
The State of California has this Self-Assessment Guide for Disaster Planning
for childcare centers and FCCs. This 8-page guide covers several areas to prep for a disaster including;- Reducing the potential threat of disaster and emergencies
- Reserve guidelines for water and food
- Needed emergency supplies
- Transportation during a disaster
- How to conduct disaster drills
The guide also addresses what to do when recovering from a disaster, when and how to communicate with the licensing agency, and gives additional resources for preparing a disaster plan.
Related Reading:
Emergency Preparedness Tool Kit
Childcare referral agencies are uniquely in tune with the needs of childcare programs and especially FCCs. This Emergency Tool Kit✎ EditSign is a collaborative effort between the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Save the Children, and the CCRC Resource and Referral department.
This mega 36-page manual goes beyond how to prepare drills and comfort kits for the children but goes into things like how to prepare for children with special needs during a disaster.
What I really like about this particular disaster planning kit is that it includes forms you can actually use. There is a handy child Emergency Card form that can be copied. In the appendix, there is an Emergency Drill Permission Form as well as a Disaster Drill Checklist and Emergency Supply List that can be copied and used again and again.
Make a Plan Poster
One of my favorite disaster resources is the Save the Children Organization site. They have several downloadable printables for specific disaster planning like earthquakes and hurricanes.
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Get this cute but functional Children’s Emergency Backpack!
I really like the displayable downloadable poster that providers can post in their childcare spaces as a reminder of specific disaster procedures. The poster includes a checklist for what to include in a Disaster Kit for childcares.
There is even another downloadable poster that providers can pass along as a resource to parents for their own at-home disaster preparedness.
Related Reading:
- WHY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS NEED: The 24-Hour Rule
- 10 Must-Haves for Childcare Safety
- What to Include in Child Care Handbook
