Chapter 26 Emergency Management

General Steps for Facility Preparation

1. Plan 2. Organize and equip 3. Train 4. Exercise (practice) 5. Evaluate and improve

Remember: It is imperative that the facility have a strong resident checkout policy in place at all times. In the event of a disaster or emergency, knowing the location of all residents is essential.

Dietary Department Specific Preparation Needs

1. Emergency menus 2.Water 3. Supplies 4. Food safety 5. Evacuation plans

Plans should be simple, flexible, and comprehensive with an emphasis on flexibility and should include all possible hazards and threats. Emergencies may have different causes, but the response, duties, and responsi- bilities will be similar. Plans for interruption of services are essential. Missing residents are included in the Federal Regulations for Skilled Nursing Facilities (F517) as a potential emergency, and the facility must have a plan for that situation (5).

Planning must assess the needs of those in the care setting as well as the risk in the geographic area. Preparation should include all stakeholders (ie, family members, staff, corporate, and consultant team members). An effective plan identifies tasks and estab- lishes the accountability of individual team members, including roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Many organizations have published planning guides, such as:

●

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

● Joint Commission

● Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Administration on Aging (AoA)

● ● AARP

These guides can help individual facilities in preparing an emergency plan.

EMERGENCY PREPARATION IN THE HOME

Older adults living in the community must also be pre- pared for an emergency. They should make a plan that addresses emergencies or disasters that may occur in their area and have an emergency kit based on personal needs. The local community will have an emergency plan that includes resources and drills to be aware of, in particular designated shelters. The Red Cross recom- mends that seniors have a personal support network that includes sharing communication plans, emergency health information cards, location of emergency supplies, and keys to gain entry into the house (6).

The Red Cross recommends a minimum basic

supply list: ● ● ●

● water (1 gallon per person per day)

food (nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items) flashlight

battery-powered or hand-cranked radio (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] weather radio if possible)

● ●

extra batteries first-aid kit

● medications (7-day supply) and medical items; multipurpose tool

● ● ● sanitation and personal hygiene items

copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)

● cell phone with chargers

● family and emergency contact information extra cash

●

● emergency blanket ● map of the area

Additional items to consider based on your need include the following:

● manual can opener ●

● ● syringes

pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl) ● extra house and car keys

The emergency kit should be checked and refreshed throughout the year, especially food and batteries.

medical supplies such as hearing aid (with extra batteries), glasses, contact lenses, cane

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