414-305-0210 Emergency Preparedness and Response (1) A certified child care center must have a written plan for emergency preparedness that addresses evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place and lockdown procedures, and responding to medical emergencies and other incidents that center staff will follow, unless otherwise instructed by emergency personnel. The plan must identify a licensed physician, hospital, or clinic to be used for emergency medical care. (2) A certified child care center’s written plan must clearly define roles and responsibilities for all staff in an emergency and identify the center’s procedures for: (a) Responding to a lost or missing child; (b) Ensuring that all children in attendance are supervised and accounted for during and after an emergency; (c) Sounding an alarm and alerting staff of the emergency; (d) Responding to health and safety emergencies or suspected abuse of children, staff, volunteers, or family members occurring while they are on the premises of the center; (e) Notifying emergency authorities, including the poison control center, when necessary; (f) Evacuating children to a designated safe area or relocating children to alternate shelter. Designated safe areas and alternate shelters must be a minimum of 50 feet from the building being evacuated; (g) Moving children to a designated location in the center for sheltering-in-place and lockdown emergencies; (h) Responding to natural and man-made disasters including power outages; (i) Responding to serious illness, serious injury or death of a child or staff; (j) Responding to incidents involving a hostile intruder; (k) Addressing the needs of individual children, including children with disabilities or other specific needs, and children with chronic medical conditions; (l) Ensuring children’s emergency contact information and medical authorization and staff emergency contact information is accessible during and after an emergency; (m) Notifying parents after the emergency ends and how children will be reunited with their families as the evacuation, relocation, or sheltering/lockdown is lifted; (n) Maintaining continuity of care after a natural or man-made disaster, including access to copies of records, documents, and computer files necessary for continued operation stored in either a portable file or at an off-site location; and (o) Ensuring pool and swimming safety if applicable (also see OAR 414-305-1300, Swimming). (3) A certified child care center must observe weather conditions and other possible hazards to take appropriate action for child health and safety. Conditions that pose a health or safety risk may include, but are not limited to: (a) Heat in excess of 100°F, or pursuant to advice of the local authority; (b) Cold less than 20°F, or pursuant to advice of the local authority; (c) Lightning storm, tornado, hurricane, or flooding if there is immediate or likely danger; (d) Earthquake; (e) Air quality emergency ordered by a local, state, or federal authority on air quality or public health; (f) Lockdown notification ordered by a public safety authority; and (g) Other similar incidents. (4) A certified child care center must review the written plan and all emergency procedures at least once per licensing year and update the procedures as needed. (5) A certified child care center must review the written plan with center staff once annually and whenever the plan is updated. (6) A certified child care center must practice evacuation drills monthly and one other aspect of the emergency plan every other month that: (a) Vary in days and times when drills are conducted; (b) Are documented including the type of drill, date, time of day, name of the person supervising the drill, number of children and staff in attendance, and length of time taken for all individuals to complete the drill; (c) Include another method, in addition to working smoke detectors, to alert all staff and enrolled children of a fire, emergency situation or drill; and (d) Include staff taking emergency contact information, medical authorization, and current attendance records with them if leaving the child care area during a drill. (e) An emergency evacuation drill must be conducted within the first 10 operating days after initial licensure. (7) A certified child care center must post on each floor and in each classroom in use, a diagram of the building showing: (a) Room numbers or names of rooms; (b) Emergency exits. Exits must not be through a swimming pool area; (c) Room location and exit pathways from the room and building; and (d) The predetermined safe location where everyone will gather after evacuation, unless emergency personnel provide alternative instructions. (8) A certified child care center must have an emergency light source, such as a flashlight, in working condition, available in: (a) Each classroom used by children; (b) The center’s kitchen; and (c) The center’s office, if applicable. (9) A certified child care center must have an emergency supply kit available in a location known to all staff. Supplies must include at a minimum: (a) First aid supplies, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and tissue; (b) A whistle or air horn; (c) A working flashlight and spare batteries; and (d) A battery or solar powered radio. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 329A.260 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 329A.263 History: ELD 10-2023, adopt filed 06/28/2023, effective 01/01/2024