Emergency Management

Having an emergency plan will allow a quick response and will make emergency situations less stressful. Below are some considerations that need to be made with developing you emergency management policy:

1. Raising the alarm

Who is responsible?
What is the signal (emergency signals should be different from general signals)?
What is the signal that the emergency is over?

2. Caring for campers not affected by the incident

Where should campers go at the signal (one signal for return to cabins, another for meet at a set rallying point)?
How will you check that all campers are accounted for?
How will these campers be supervised while the emergency is in progress?
How will these campers be checked for effects of the emergency (for example in a mass casualty related to exposure to toxic fumes)?

3. Individual Roles:

Who should be notified in each emergency situation (i.e. Lifeguard, Camp Nurse etc.)?
Who is responsible for managing the scene of the emergency, including managing any hand over to emergency services?
Who is responsible for participating in or coordinating searches?
Who is responsible for caring for the other campers?
Who is responsible for determining whether to call in emergency services?
Who is responsible for calling emergency services?
What should other staff be doing during the emergency?

4. Individual Child Need:

How will the person responsible for managing each emergency know which children may be more vulnerable to difficulties in the emergency (i.e. asthmatics during a fire)?
How will these children be monitored and cared for?

5. Locations, Maps and Diagrams:

Where is the emergency rallying point? Note – this should be away from buildings or treed areas that may be affected by a fire.
What are the search areas – a map outlining each area should be included in the procedures? Some camps have a map for each search area leader and know that every area is covered when all the maps have been distributed.
For a lost or missing child – what are the priority search areas (i.e. bathrooms, cabins, favourite hiding places etc.)?
For water searches in swimming areas, what pattern of search will be used to ensure all areas are covered (required when visibility through the water is poor)? Note – this should be a horizontal/vertical and then diagonal grid to cover the whole area. A diagram should be included in the policy and accessible at the swimming area.

6. Emergency Services:

What is the time distance to the nearest emergency services?
What are the capabilities of the nearest emergency services?
How will the camp manage each situation for the time it takes emergency services to arrive?

7. Staff Training:

How will staff be trained in management of emergencies?
What ‘drills’ will be conducted before and during camp?

Additional Resources

Sample Policy: Death of a Camper or Staff Member

Sample Policy: Hostile Intruder

Sample Policy: Missing Persons Flow Chart