Emergency and Evacuation Policy - Dorothy Waide Centre for Early ...

Emergency 

POLICY 

Na#onal law and Regula#ons: 

Na#onal Law sec%ons 169, 174, 

Regula#ons 4, 12, 87, 97, 136, 168(2)(e) Standard 

2.3 

Link to Na#onal Quality Standards 

Na%onal Quality Standard -‐ 2, 3, 4 & 7 

Policy statement 

Griffith Child Care Centre Inc has a duty of care to 

provide all persons 1 with a safe and healthy 

environment. 

The service defines ‘emergency’ as an unplanned, 

sudden or unexpected event or situa%on that requires 

immediate ac%on to prevent harm, injury or illness to 

persons or damage to the service’s environment. It is a 

risk to an individual’s health and safety. 

The emergency events or situa%ons the service’s 

Emergency Policy iden%fies and responds to are: 

• fires and/or grass fires 

• missing child 

• intruders (animal or human) 

• power failures or electrocu%on 

• the involvement of firearms or other weapons 

• structural damage 

• burglary 

• natural disasters, such as a flood, thunderstorm 

or earthquake. 

It is understood that there is a shared legal 

responsibility and accountability between, and a 

commitment by, all persons to implement the service’s 

Emergency Policy, procedures and prac%ces. 

The service also complies withWorkplace Health And 

Safety Na#onal Standards, codes of prac#ce, Australian 

Standards and best prac%ce recommenda%ons from 

recognised authori%es. 

The procedures rela%ng to the Emergency Policy are 

clearly labelled and displayed in the service for all 

stakeholders to read. 

Ra#onale 

In an emergency situa#on it is impera#ve that a 

procedure be followed in order to maintain op#mum 

safety for all occupants of a building. 

Please refer to: 

Occupa%onal Health and Safety Amendment Bill 2011 

The service also complies with the 2004 NSW Children’s 

Services Regula#on and Educa#on and Care Services 

Na#onal Regula#ons (effec#ve 2012).which reflect 

addi%onal health and safety requirements. 

Fire Protec%on Associa%on Australia (FPAA) – 

www.fpaa.com.au 

The strategies, procedures and prac%ces documented in 

the Emergency Policy reflect the service’s WHS Policy. 

Responsibili#es of different stakeholders 

Please refer to the WHS Policy handbook. 

Risk management strategies 

Please refer to the service’s WPS Policy. 

Emergencies that require first aid 

Please refer to the service’s First Aid Policy. 

Emergencies that require persons to remain inside the 

service un5l further no5ce 

There are different strategies for emergencies that 

require persons to remain inside the service un%l 

further no%ce. For example, severe storm condi%ons 

may dictate that children and adults remain inside un%l 

further no%ce from the SES. 

In an emergency situa#on: 

Families will be contacted via phone or if possible via 

email to advise of the situa%on. 

WHS procedures and prac%ces should be easy to read 

and interpret. Services may need to consider obtaining 

informa%on in community languages. 

1 

For the purpose of this policy, 'persons' include


POLICY 

Evacua5on drills 

Evacua%on drills are to be conducted regularly. A staff 

member is to take responsibility for arranging and 

documen%ng the evacua%on procedure. 

An evacua%on drill report should be completed at the 

end of each drill. 

Drills should be random, on different days, %mes, 

loca%ons and should involve different scenarios where 

possible -‐ eg fire, storm, dust storm, intruder etc. 

Documen#ng WHS procedures and prac#ces 

Refer to WHS {Policy Documents in conjunc%on with 

this policy. 

Dealing with the emo#onal and psychological impact 

of an emergency 

Emergencies involve more than a physical response to 

an unexpected or sudden event or situa%on. They have 

an emo%onal and psychological impact on people, 

which can affect individuals for an extended period afer 

the emergency. 

Play and learning experiences should be planned which 

encourage children to express their thoughts, feelings 

and emo%ons regarding an emergency. 

Informa%on is to be provided for educators and families 

on support networks and counselling services available 

for children, families and educators following an 

emergency. 

Dealing with the media 

In an emergency, or when an incident has occurred, 

Media may want to seek comment or “cover” the story. 

Only authorised people within the organisa%on are 

permijed to discuss incidents with the media. 

Care should be taken by all staff when talking outside of 

the service, about incidents that have taken place, 

conflict could arise over privacy or other factors. 

Communica#on with different stakeholders 

Children 

Children are to be given opportuni%es to discuss and 

prac%ce emergency evacua%on procedures -‐ including 

evacua%on from the building in case of fire. This should 

happen on a regular basis and adhere to current 

guidelines on safe evacua%on -‐ eg “drop and roll” “Get 

down low and go go go”. 

Families 

Families are to be advised of safety drills and what has 

been discussed with children. 

Informa%on on safety at home is to be provided through 

brochures, web-‐links and newslejers. 

Links to other policies 

This policy should be read in conjunc%on with the 

following policies documents and procedures: 

• Child protec%on 

• First aid 

• Food safety 

• Healthy ea%ng 

• Hygiene and infec%on control 

• Maintenance of buildings and equipment 

• Medica%on 

• Occupa%onal health and safety 

• Rest and sleep 

• Supervision 

• Suppor%ng children’s individual needs 

Sources 

• Fire Protec%on Associa%on Australia (FPAA). 

(n.d.). Retrieved 12 July, 2010, from hjp:// 

www.fpaa.com.au 

Further reading 

• Tarrant, S. (2002). Managing WHS in children’s 

services: A model for implemen#ng an 

Occupa#onal Health and Safety (WHS) 

management system in your children’s service. 

NSW: Lady Gowrie Child Centre. 

Useful NCAC resources 

• McLeod, P. (2005). Health and safety 

informa%on on the internet. PuGng Children 

First, 15, 12-‐13. 

• OSHCQA Factsheet #3 – Safety in children’s 

services. 

• QIAS Factsheet #23 – Safety in children’s 

services. 

• Tarr, K. (2006). Electrical safety in children’s 

services. PuGng Children First, 18, 7. 

WHS and Policy Statements – Griffith Child Care Centre Inc. 2012 

Review Date - 16/07/2012


POLICY 

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE: ACCIDENT 

Ra#onale: 

To ensure that children and adults in care are safe at all %mes. 

Procedure: 

• DON’T PANIC. 

• ATTEND TO CHILD/ADULT -‐ 

D(danger) R(Response) A(Airway) B(Breathing) C (Circula#on) 

• DETERMINE NATURE OF INJURY, AND ACTION TO BE TAKEN. 

• CONTACT AMBULANCE 

-‐ 0 0 0 -‐ 

• CONTACT PARENT 

• COLLECT DETAILS OF ACCIDENT 

• All staff involved should complete a detailed statement of the accident, this should be completed as 

soon afer the accident as is possible and prac%cal. 

• Copies of these formal accident reports should be provided to the Parents, Insurance Company and 

authori%es. 

• Where a child has been hospitalized comple%on of the Serious Accident No%fica%on form for 

Community Services is required. See appendix. 

• IF CHILD NEEDS TO ATTEND HOSPITAL -‐ TAKE FILE TOO! 

Emergency: Designated Evacua#on responsibili#es 

Playroom 1 staff clear playroom 1 and nursery 

Playroom 2 staff clear playroom 2 -‐ check hallway/ storeroom 

Playroom 3 staff clear playroom 3 -‐ check storeroom/Laundry and kitchen 

other staff 

clear kitchen, office. 

collect parent sign on book. 

collect staff roll -‐ daily sleep sheet. 

collect first aid kits -‐ if possible. 




POLICY 

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE: Building FIRE | 

Grass FIRE 

Ra5onale: 

To ensure children and adults are evacuated in the 

safest and quickest way possible. 

Pre Plan: 

Each day : 

Check all room exits are clear of furniture and 

equipment. 

Check emergency keys are in iden%fied loca%ons. 

Ensure that fire hazards are reduced. 

Ensure that emergency equipment is in place. 

Check safe assembly areas are iden%fied. 

Fire Safety -‐ if using candles, please consider the 

following when planning on using these, -‐ why? What is 

the reason for the candle? Where is it located? Can 

anything fall into it, catch fire or can it fall over? Are 

children close by, will it be lef unajended? If you have 

doubts about any of these ques%ons then don’t light 

the candle. 

Regularly: 

Talk about fire safety with children and your colleagues. 

Prac%ce safe exits from the building. How would you 

know there is a fire? Which door would you leave by? 

What if the door was locked? Or closed? How do you 

escape safely if there is smoke? 

Prac#ce: 

Go down low and Go Go Go 

Grass Fire: 

During the summer period there is increased risk of the 

blocks adjacent to the Centre catching fire and crea%ng 

grass fire risk. 

If there is a grass fire, move the indoors as quickly as 

possible, shut all the windows and doors to keep 

smoke out. 

Call the fire brigade immediately. 

Monitor the fire and hose down any spovires that may 

occur in the gardens from falling embers. 

Procedure: 

Raise the alarm -‐ DON’T PANIC 

Close all windows and doors to help contain fire -‐ DO 

NOT LOCK DOORS. 

Grab the Emergency First Aid Kit located on playroom 3 

cra` bench. 

No%fy Office Immediately. 

Office will :-‐ 

Phone Fire brigade -‐ 000 -‐ give following informa%on -‐ 

Name of Centre -‐ Griffith Child Care Centre 

Address -‐ 1 Middleton Ave., Pioneer 

Nearest Cross Street -‐ Crn Watson Rd and Middleton 

Ave. 

Playroom staff to evacuate building: 

Then:-‐ 

Collect ajendance sign on book and sleep sheet. 

Collect Gate keys -‐ located beside sliding doors. 

Organise an orderly Evacua%on of the building -‐ nearest 

safe exit. 

Evacuate to Carpark or big playground by the far gate -‐ 

which ever is safest. 

Check off evacuated children against roll and check that 

all staff, visitors and children are accounted for. 

Contact parents -‐ using emergency numbers listed on 

roll 

Liaise with Emergency re: Missing Children/adults. 

All other Staff to evacuate building via nearest safe exit. 

Go Down Low and Go Go Go. 




POLICY 

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE: SEVERE STORMS 

Ra#onale: 

To ensure children and adults are safe in the event of 

severe storms. 

Pre Plan: 

During storm seasons check that the centre and its 

environment are prepared for severe wind storms. 

During summer frequent and severe dust storms can 

occur, during this period there is a risk for some children 

and adults having severe asthma ajacks. 

Each day 

Checking outdoors that everything is secure and that 

there is no rubbish or material that could “fly around”. 

Check shade sails are tethered correctly and secure. 


Ensure that fire hazards are reduced. 



Procedure: 

Children and adults are to remain indoors away from 

windows and doors. 

Check that all children are inside. 

Reassure children. 

Should the building sustain damage contact 

SES -‐ STATE EMERGENCY SERVICES OR DIAL 000 

Contact Insurance Company to determine what ac%on 

should be taken afer ini%al damage has been repaired 

or secured. 

During Dust storms close all doors and windows -‐ if 

severe place wet towels below doors to seal against 

dust. 

During severe storms water could enter the building -‐ 

check the front door, kitchen door and laundry door for 

water entry. 

Also check in staff room for water entering the building 

around the window corner area. 

Regularly: 

Talk about storm safety with children and your 

colleagues. Prac%ce safe exits from the building. How 

would you know there is a fire? Which door would you 

leave by? What if the door was locked? Or closed? 

How do you escape safely if there is smoke? 

Prac#ce: 

Evacua%ng inside if there is a storm. 

Followup 

Incidents should be recorded and security procedure 

reviewed and updated. 




POLICY 

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE: INTRUDER. 

Ra#onale: 

To ensure Children and Adults are safe at all %mes. 

Pre Plan: 

Staff to discuss on a regular ac%on they may take in case 

of an intruder -‐ human or animal. 

Each day 

Checking all doors and windows that everything is 

secure. 




Regularly: 

Talk about stranger danger and how we can keep safe 

from people who might scare us. 

Prac#ce: 

Evacua%ng inside if there is an intruder. 

Followup 



Procedure: 

Intruders posing a safety hazard 

Politely greet the intruder, iden%fy yourself and ask the 

purpose of their visit. Having a member of staff close by 

to secure the door and for support if needed. 

Explain that all visitors must sign in. 

It the intruder becomes agitated and refuses to leave 

the building peacefully endeavor to calm the person 

whilst trying to gain the ajen%on of your staff member 

to call the police. 

If the caller persists, the children and staff will assemble 

together in a room away from the windows and doors 

and will be distracted by staff, sign on register /room 

rolls and telephone will be taken with them, and they 

will stay there un%l the police will arrive. 

If the person leaves before the police arrive do not 

ajempt to detain them. 

If the person does not leave before the police arrive. 

Explain to the officers what has happened, so they can 

deal with the intruder and find a cause for arrest. 

Procedure if: Intruder is armed 

All staff will be alerted and the police contacted 

immediately. 

Try to remain calm diver%ng the intruder as far away 

from the children as possible. 

The children and staff will assemble togetherin a room 

or loca%on away from the windows and doors and will 

be distracted by staff, register and telephone will be 

taken with them, and they will stay there un%l the 

police will arrive. 

If the intruder shows a weapon try to remain calm do 

not try to disarm them, reassure them that it is not 

necessary for them to use it. 

Once the police arrive, make them aware of where the 

intruder is and any weapon you may have seen 

describing the intruder and repor%ng anything relevant 

the intruder may have said. 

All staff and children should remain where they are 

unless directed otherwise by the police. 




POLICY 

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE: MISSING CHILD 

Ra#onale: 


Pre Plan: 

Iden%fy areas of risk when supervising children. 

Each day 

Checking all doors, windows, fences and gates that 

everything is secure. 


Regularly: 

Monitor supervision, maintain the roll and check the 

roll. 

Prac#ce: 

Maintain adequate supervision of all children at all 

%mes. 

Regularly check the roll -‐ informally and formally to 

ensure that you know where all children are at all %mes. 

Followup 



Check Excursion policy for addi%onal requirements on 

supervision for these events. 

Procedure: 

Each pupil who arrives or leaves the Centre should be 

signed into and out of care by a parent of guardian. 

Staff are to maintain and record a separate room roll 

indica%ng when children arrive and leave the centre. 

Staff maintain the appropriate high level of supervision 

throughout the day and are aware of the loca%on of all 

children in their care at all %mes. 

The roll should be checked once all children are 

gathered in the morning and in the afernoon. This can 

be done through a formal or informal process. The 

number of children is checked regularly by frequent roll 

calls. 

However, in the unlikely event that afer a roll call or at 

another %me it is no%ced that a child has gone missing. 

The following procedures will be followed. 

•Staff will maintain safety and well-‐being of other 

children. 

•A roll call will be taken. 

•An authorized supervisor or senior staff member and 

at least one other member of staff will search the 

immediate vicinity or centre grounds. Going to places 

at which the child was last seen, tracing the routes 

that they may have taken. 

•If the child is not found afer approximately 20 

minutes, the AS will endeavor to contact the parents 

of the missing child by telephone. 

•If afer approximately 15 minutes the parents have 

not been contacted, the AS will contact the police. 

•Once police arrive all relevant informa%on about the 

child will be given. The police will then take over the 

search. 

•If off-‐site, the Group Leader will remain with the 

police to comfort the child when found and maintain 

regular contact with the Centre. 

•The remaining staff will return to the Centre with the 

rest of the children if off-‐site. 




POLICY 

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE: POWER FAILURE 

Ra#onale: 


Pre Plan: 

What might might happen if there is a power failure. 

Power failure can have a significant impact on the 

opera%on of the centre. Prolonged power outages can 

disrupt the ability of the centre to carry out its task to 

effec%vely. 

For prolonged power outages it could mean that the 

centre has to bring in generators to source addi%onal 

power for such outages or consider closure un%l power 

is restored. 

Each day 

Checking all doors, windows, fences and gates that 

everything is secure. 


Regularly: 

Monitor supervision, maintain the roll and check the 

roll. 

Prac#ce: 

Maintain adequate supervision of all children at all 

%mes. 

Regularly check the roll -‐ informally and formally to 

ensure that you know where all children are at all %mes. 

Followup 



Procedure: 

First off 

If there is a power failure -‐ before calling for an 

electrician check the power boards for tripped circuits. 

If the circuit has been “tripped” switch it back on. 

If the circuit “trips” again, check what is on that circuit -‐ 

all power circuits are iden%fied by a number. Is there an 

appliance that is not working properly that could be 

causing the problem? IF so disconnect this appliance 

and then arrange for this to be checked. 

If the power failure is to be longer, contact the power 

company and iden%fy how long the outage will be for. 

If it is going to be for some%me and there is a risk posed 

to children then you will need to consider contac%ng 

the parents and closing the Centre un%l power is 

restored -‐ especially if this is during a heatwave. 

Other Considera#ons: 

Cold Holding -‐ Refrigera#on 

A refrigerator without power will keep food cold for 4-‐6 

hours as long as the door is kept closed. The length of 

%me is dependent on the temperature of the room and 

the temperature of the fridge before the power outage. 

Immediately: ␣ 

Record the %me the power outage began. ␣ 

Monitor and record food temperatures every 2 hours 

with a probe thermometer. ␣ 

Add ice to the refrigerators to maximize the %me the 

food stays cold. ␣ 

Minimize refrigerator opening. 

Start planning for: ␣ Reloca#on of food to a refrigerated 

truck, an alternate loca%on unaffected by the power 

outage, or to portable coolers. ␣ 

Immediate Use of Poten%ally Hazardous Foods that 

have risen into the Danger Zone (above 4°C/40°F) but 

have been there for less than 2 hours. ␣ 

Discarding food. Poten%ally Hazardous Foods that have 

been stored above 4°C/40°F for more than 2 hours need 

to be discarded. 




POLICY 

Cold Holding -‐ Frozen 

A full freezer will keep food frozen about 2 days if the 

freezer is kept closed. A half-‐loaded freezer will keep 

food frozen about half a day if the freezer is lef closed. 

Immediately: ␣ 

Keep freezers closed. ␣ Add ice to the freezer and add 

addi%onal insula%on, covering the freezer with blankets, 

to assist in keeping the food frozen longer. 

Start planning for: ␣ 

Reloca#on of frozen food to a freezer truck, or an 

alternate loca%on unaffected by the power outage. ␣ 

Thawing of food. Poten%ally hazardous foods that have 

thawed but the temperature has not increased to above 

4°C/40°F can be safely cooked and eaten or cooked and 

refrozen. ␣ 

Refreezing of par#ally thawed foods. As a general rule, 

if there are ice crystals in the food, and there are no 

obvious signs of spoilage, then it's safe to quickly 

refreeze. Do not refreeze thawed ready-‐to-‐eat foods. ␣ 

Discarding food. Any food that has completely thawed 

and has been si{ng at room temperature for more than 

2 hours or an unknown period of %me, needs to be 

discarded. 

Mechanical Ven#la#on Immediately: 

Discon%nue interior cooking that produces steam, 

smoke and grease laden vapors. 

Cooking Immediately: 

Discard poten%ally hazardous foods that were in the 

cooking process but did not reach a safe final cooking 

temperature unless cooking can be completed 

immediately by an alternate method. 


Obtaining an alternate heat source for cooking. 

Never use gas barbecues or propane fueled 

appliances indoors. 

Hot Holding Immediately: 

Record the %me the power went out. ␣ 

Monitor hot holding temperatures hourly. 


Obtaining an alternate heat source for hot holding. ␣ 

Discarding food. All poten%ally hazardous foods that 

have been held in the Danger Zone (below 60°C/140°F) 

for more than 2 hours must be discarded. 

Ligh#ng Immediately: 

Restrict ac#vi#es to those that can be safely conducted 

in natural light whenever possible. 

Start planning for: Providing an alternate sources of 

ligh#ng. 

Ligh#ng Immediately: 

Restrict ac#vi#es to those that can be safely conducted 

in natural light whenever possible. 

Start planning for: 

Providing an alternate sources of ligh%ng. Candles are 

not recommended, use flashlights instead. 




POLICY 

Air Condi#oning 

Heat-‐related illnesses can develop within a short period 

of %me when exposed to extreme heat. 

Immediately: 

Have drinking water available for all children. ␣ 

Keep shades drawn and blinds closed on the sunny side 

of the Centre. 

Start planning for: 

Monitoring of children for signs and symptoms of heat-related 

illness. 

Cooling with a cool bath, shower or cool down with 

cool, wet towels. 

Immediately: 

Heat 

Conserve body heat by dressing warmly in layers and 

using blankets.

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