Emergency plans
 268. (1) This section applies to the emergency plans required under subsection 90 (1) of the Act. (2) Every licensee of a long-term care home shall ensure that the emergency plans for the home are recorded in writing. (3) In developing and updating the plans, the licensee shall, (a)  consult with entities that may be involved in or provide emergency services in the area where the home is located including, without being limited to, community agencies, health service providers as defined in the Connecting Care Act, 2019, partner facilities and resources that will be involved in responding to the emergency, and keep a record of the consultation; (b)  ensure that hazards and risks that may give rise to an emergency impacting the home are identified and assessed, whether the hazards and risks arise within the home or in the surrounding vicinity or community; and (c)  consult with the Residents’ Council and Family Council, if any. (4) The licensee shall ensure that the emergency plans provide for the following: 1.  Dealing with emergencies, including, without being limited to, i.  outbreaks of a communicable disease, outbreaks of a disease of public health significance, epidemics and pandemics, ii.  fires, iii.  community disasters, iv.  violent outbursts, v.  bomb threats, vi.  medical emergencies, vii.  chemical spills, viii.  situations involving a missing resident, ix.  loss of one or more essential services, x.  gas leaks, xi.  natural disasters and extreme weather events, xii.  boil water advisories, and xiii.  floods. 2.  Evacuation plans for the home, including, at a minimum, i.  a system in the home to account for the whereabouts of all residents in the event that it is necessary to evacuate and relocate residents and evacuate staff and others in case of an emergency, ii.  identification of a safe evacuation location for which the licensee has obtained agreement in advance that residents, staff, students, volunteers and others can be evacuated to, iii.  a transportation plan to move residents, staff, students, volunteers and others to the evacuation location, and iv.  a plan to transport critical medication, supplies and equipment during an evacuation to the evacuation location to ensure resident safety. 3.  Resources, supplies, personal protective equipment and equipment vital for the emergency response being set aside and readily available at the home including, without being limited to, hand hygiene products and cleaning supplies, as well as a process to ensure that the required resources, supplies, personal protective equipment and equipment have not expired. 4.  Identification of entities that may be involved in or that may provide emergency services in the area where the home is located including, without being limited to, community agencies, health service providers as defined in the Connecting Care Act, 2019, partner facilities and resources that will be involved in responding to the emergency and the current contact information for each entity. 5.  Identification of the roles and responsibilities of the entities referred to in paragraph 4 and a plan for consulting with such entities on their involvement. 6.  A plan for food and fluid provision in an emergency. 7.  A plan to ensure that in an emergency all residents have timely access to all drugs that have been prescribed for them. (5) The licensee shall ensure that the emergency plans address the following components: 1.  Plan activation, including identifying who or which entity declares there is an emergency at the home and who or which entity declares that the emergency is over at the home, as agreed upon by the entities the licensee consulted with under clause (3) (a). 2.  Lines of authority. 3.  A communications plan. 4.  Specific staff roles and responsibilities. (6) The licensee shall ensure that the communications plan referred to in paragraph 3 of subsection (5) includes a process for the licensee to ensure frequent and ongoing communication to residents, substitute decision-makers, if any, staff, volunteers, students, caregivers, the Residents’ Council and the Family Council, if any, on the emergency in the home including at the beginning of the emergency, when there is a significant status change throughout the course of the emergency, and when the emergency is over. (7) Every licensee of a long-term care home shall ensure that, in addition to making the current recorded version of the emergency plans available on its website, physical copies of it are made available on request. (8) The licensee shall ensure that the emergency plans for the home are evaluated and updated, (a) at least annually, including the updating of all emergency contact information of the entities referred to in paragraph 4 of subsection 268 (4); and (b)  within 30 days of the emergency being declared over, after each instance that an emergency plan is activated. (9) In evaluating and updating the plan as required under subsection (8), every licensee shall ensure that the entities involved in the emergency response are provided an opportunity to offer feedback. (10) The licensee shall, (a)  on an annual basis test the emergency plans related to the loss of essential services, fires, situations involving a missing resident, medical emergencies, violent outbursts, gas leaks, natural disasters, extreme weather events, boil water advisories, outbreaks of a communicable disease, outbreaks of a disease of public health significance, epidemics, pandemics and floods, including the arrangements with the entities that may be involved in or provide emergency services in the area where the home is located including, without being limited to, community agencies, health service providers as defined in the Connecting Care Act, 2019, partner facilities and resources that will be involved in responding to the emergency; (b)  test all other emergency plans at least once every three years, including arrangements with the entities that may be involved in or provide emergency services in the area where the home is located including, without being limited to, community agencies, health service providers as defined in the Connecting Care Act, 2019, partner facilities and resources that will be involved in responding to the emergency; (c)  conduct a planned evacuation at least once every three years; and (d)  keep a written record of the testing of the emergency plans and planned evacuation and of the changes made to improve the plans. (11) If there is a conflict or an inconsistency between a provision of the fire code under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 and a provision of an emergency plan, the fire code prevails to the extent of the conflict or inconsistency. (12) The licensee shall keep current all arrangements with entities that may be involved in or provide emergency services in the area where the home is located including, without being limited to, community agencies, health service providers as defined in the Connecting Care Act, 2019, partner facilities and resources that will be involved in responding to the emergency. (13) Every licensee of a long-term care home shall ensure that the emergency plans address recovery from an emergency, including, (a)  requiring that residents, their substitute decision-makers, if any, staff, volunteers, and students be debriefed after the emergency; (b)  establishing how to resume normal operations in the home; and (c)  establishing how to support those in the home who experienced distress during the emergency. (14) Every licensee of a long-term care home shall ensure that staff, volunteers and students are trained on the emergency plans, (a)  before they perform their responsibilities; and (b)  at least annually thereafter. (15) In this section, “emergency” means an urgent or pressing situation or condition presenting an imminent threat to the health or well-being of residents and others attending the home that requires immediate action to ensure the safety of persons in the home. (16) Revoked: O. Reg. 66/23, s. 39.