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Preparing for the Flu- NEW
The purpose of “Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Child Care and Early Childhood Programs” is to provide information and communication resources to help center-based and home-based child care programs, Head Start programs, and other early childhood programs implement recommendations from CDC’s Guidance on Helping Child Care and Early Childhood Programs Respond to Influenza during the 2009-2010 Influenza Season.
Will the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines be safe?pdf
Emergency Preparedness & Response
The outcome of an emergency is often directly affected by how well the people involved are prepared. In an emergency, whether it is a natural disaster, technological disaster or an attack, children may not understand what is happening and may be physically or developmentally unable to protect themselves. Child care programs that have emergency plans are better able to react and protect the lives of those involved.
All child care programs and providers, regardless of where they are located, face some risk of disasters. It is important to understand which events are most likely to occur in your child care community and know the specifics for preparing for them.
Types of Potential Disasters in North Dakota
Natural:
Severe Weather, Snow & Ice Storms, Tornadoes, Floods, Wildfires, High Winds |
Technological:
Electrical outages, Loss of Water, Flooding from Broken Pipes, Gas Outages, Fires, Exposure to Hazardous Materials, Aviation Accidents, Oil Spills, Dam Failure |
Attacks:
Bomb Threats, Biological, Chemical, Explosive, Nuclear, Radiological |
In the past decade, the most common types of natural disasters affecting North Dakotans were: Severe Storms (summer and winter), Tornadoes, and Flooding. (FEMA). ND child care programs have also been impacted in recent years by exposure to hazardous materials (anhydrous spills, gas leaks), fires, water main breaks, and lock downs due to threatening individuals/situations. |
Reducing the Risks
The Reducing the Risk Planning Checklist can help you think about how you can make your child care site safer. Some of the items are simple, and some require more planning, work and expenses. Plan ahead to keep everyone in your care safe.
Closing your Child Care Program
There will be times when it is not safe for children to come to your child care program, such as in the case of severe weather or times when you will need to close your program early when children are already present. An Emergency Closing Plan is important to have in place in order to reduce the likelihood of confusion where you find that you need to close your child care program.
Evacuating or Relocating from your Child Care Setting
Some disasters may require quick evacuation of children and staff. The ability to evacuate efficiently can save lives. All child care programs should develop an evacuation plan, train staff on the plan, and practice carrying out the plan. Develop two plans to evacuate children and staff:
- a plan to evacuate to a nearby location, preferably within walking distance and,
- a plan to evacuate to a location further away from the child care site. A nearby location may be used in the case of a fire and a location further from the child care site may be necessary if there is a major environmental hazard.
Evacuation & Relocation Plan pdf
It is a good idea to have a written agreement with a representative of the facility that you plan to evacuate to. Emergency Relocation Shelter Agreement pdf
In cases in which children will have to be transported to an evacuation facility, it is important to have a parental agreement on file for the children in your care.
Emergency Transportation Permission Agreement pdf
Upon enrollment, and at least annually, provide parents with important contact information to inform them of contact information in the event that your child care program has to evacuate.
Parent Emergency Evacuation Information Form pdf
In a frenzied emergency situation, it is possible that children may mistakenly get separated from the larger child care group, despite your efforts of practice and preparation. In order to help identify children’s name and family contact information, you may find it helpful to have Child ID cards ready to be placed on a child during an evacuation.
Child Identification Form pdf
Department of Human Services Request:
The Department of Human Services is requesting that all child care homes and facilities complete this form for state child care long term emergency preparedness planning. This is not just for areas under immediate risk of flooding. Each plan should include a "first choice" and "second choice" relocation plan, in the event that you have to evacuate your child care home or facility. Please be specific. Include telephone numbers (land lines and cell phone numbers), as well as names and addresses of where you can be reached in the case of an evacuation. You may download this form from this website, complete it, and mail or e-mail it to your county child care licensor.
Child Care Evacuation Disaster Plan word
Safe-Place and Shelter-In-Place
During some disasters, it may be better to keep the children and staff in your child care home/facility instead of evacuating or it may be necessary because it is not possible or safe to evacuate.
- A "Safe-Place" means staying inside your home or building during and emergency, such as during a severe storm or tornado.
- "Shelter-in-Place" means staying inside and trying to keep the outside air out, such as during a chemical emergency.
- Safe- Place and Shelter-in-Place pdf to be posted here.
Emergency Supplies
One of the most important components to emergency preparedness is to have an appropriately stocked emergency supply kit. The items and amounts of supplies needed will vary based on the number and ages of the children you serve.
Emergency Supply Kit pdf
Telephone Communication Checklists
Emergency Evacuation Plan Components
Flooding
Click here for important information on preparing for and dealing with flooding.
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