Natural disasters and centre emergency lockdown procedure.

Aim: To ensure that immediate and appropriate action and care is taken to ensure the health and safety of all staff, children, and visitors to the centre in the event of a threat or natural disaster.

Goals: Our Centre will conduct ongoing risk assessments and reviews of potential lockdown and natural disaster situations.

Implementation

Examples of such critical incidents are:

• Death of a child at the centre or on an excursion

• Children/Educators being taken hostage

• A siege of centre property

• A disaster in the local community

• Unusual amounts of media attention

• Aggressive trespassers (animal or human)

Risk assessments

We will conduct a risk assessment of potential emergencies that are relevant to our service at least once every 12 months and soon as practicable after becoming aware of any circumstances that may affect the safe evacuation of children from our service. A record of each risk assessment conducted will be kept, in line with our regulatory obligations.

We will ensure that children are protected from risks, and that any newly identified risks are communicated to the nominated supervisor and approved provider as soon as practicable. The approved provider must ensure that any necessary updates are made to this Policy and Procedure.

Risk assessment areas to consider

Risk assessments must identify and assess the risks of potential emergencies and specify how the risks will be minimised and managed.

Possible emergencies including:

• Natural disasters such as earthquake, flood, bush fire, extreme weather and storms

• Personal injuries and threats, suspicious mail, siege, bomb scare

• Chemical spills, biohazards, fire, gas leak, explosion.

Potential hazard during emergencies including:

• Heavy items falling particularly if they are stored high

• Hazardous materials leaking

• Communication/power outages or live wires

• Debris blocking preventing safe evacuation

• Structural damage to buildings.

Emergency rehearsals

The service will add to each child’s sense of security, predictability and safety, and ensure all educators and staff are familiar with our emergency procedures, by conducting evacuation drills at least every three months.

If necessary, the nominated supervisor will prepare a risk assessment to identify and manage risks that may arise in emergency drills and evacuation points.

The nominated supervisor will develop a schedule for conducting drills for the different types of emergencies identified in the Emergency Management Plan and will diarise to ensure these are completed. All rehearsals and drills will be recorded and available for inspection.

The drills will:

• Take place at various times of the day and week to ensure all children and staff members get the opportunity to rehearse. Rehearsals may also be conducted when families are present to help them become familiar with the emergency procedures. All persons present at the service during the evacuation drill must participate

• Be documented and assessed against specific outcomes

• Reviewed to identify any improvements that may be made. Any training needs will be identified, and action will be taken to implement the relevant training

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

Situated in all the classrooms and foyer is a detailed emergency evacuation plan that will be implemented in the case of fire, gas leak or bomb threat in the building. These evacuation procedures will be practiced with all staff and children a minimum of every 3 months.

LOCKDOWN PROCEDURE

Lockdown procedures will occur when there is a severe natural disaster, severe storm, threat from intruders (animal or human) or other critical incidents as listed above. We will practice lockdown procedures with all educators, children and volunteers a minimum of every 3 months. These rehearsals will be documented and evaluated.

Emergency Evacuation Kit

An emergency evacuation bag will be kept in case of the need to evacuate the premises. The nominated supervisor will ensure an Emergency Kit includes:

• A torch and batteries

• A portable radio and batteries

• A First Aid kit

• Nappies and wipes (where needed)

• Alcohol based hand sanitiser

• Tissues

• Gloves

• Water

• Pencils and paper

• Sunscreen

• Current emergency contact details for each child

• Employee and next of kin contact details.

All supplies will be checked regularly.

Regular checks will be carried out of the centre’s fire safety equipment and emergency lights by Extinguisher Services. Records of such checks will be kept on file.

Information sharing, training and monitoring

The nominated supervisor will include the this policy in staff inductions and ensure staff, volunteers and students receive practical training in relation to the requirements, including how to identify and manage risks.

At orientation, parents will be provided with this policy. Staff and family can access the risk assessments we conduct. Where appropriate, visitors will also be made aware of the emergency response procedures.

Our Emergency Management Plan will be tested every quarter and reviewed at least annually and as soon as practicable after an emergency event. We will use informal games and discussions to familiarise children with our evacuation and emergency procedures as well as regular rehearsals.

The approved provider and nominated supervisor will monitor staff to ensure they are following our policies and procedures for emergencies and evacuations. They will act quickly to fix any issues and will give staff any extra support or training they need to comply. Volunteers and students are also required to comply with all service policies and procedures.

We will keep a record of all actual and rehearse emergencies, training and risk assessments, which can be accessed by staff, volunteers and families.

Roles and responsibilities

EMERGENCY LOCKDOWN PROCEDURE

If an event takes place that requires a "Lockdown", the following should occur:

• Any educator who witnesses the event must try to raise an alarm with the most senior person in charge.

• 000 must be called immediately if the event or issue requires police, ambulance, or fire service to attend.

• The Director or person in charge will determine the need for a "Lockdown" and raise the appropriate alarm.

Alarm Procedure

• The Centre bell will sound every 5 seconds for a one-minute period.

• The Director or person in charge will sound the bell and make the following announcement.

• “This is a LOCKDOWN”

• “This is not a fire drill”

• “Everyone is to stay in the room, remain seated and to keep calm and quiet.”

Movement of Children and Staff

• All persons will remain in their rooms.

• If possible, educators will make efforts to seal and lock classroom doors and windows.

• Children should remain under the tables or down low and out of sight during the lockdown period.

• If children are outside staff should get them inside as quickly as possible even if they are not from their room.

Educators Responsibilities

• Person in charge to contact Emergency Services and follow their instructions.

• Educators not involved in the lockdown or without children to supervise are to go to the front of the Centre to liaise with emergency services if it is safe to do so.

• Educators must check the sign-in sheet and check all signed-in children are present. Any absences must be reported to the Director as soon as it is safe.

• Educators are to close and lock all doors and windows, turn the lights off and ensure children are kept below the window level.

• All educators, children, and anyone else present will remain in the locked room until the All Clear is given by the Director or person in charge.

All Clear Signal

The All-Clear Signal is as follows:

• The Director or person in charge will say “The Lockdown has now ended, everyone follow me and the educators in an orderly manner.”

Centre Support

Dated: October 2024

• * This procedure is the property of Eikoh Seminar Australia Pty Limited and must not be reproduced without the consent of management.