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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
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Who is responsible?
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What is the signal (emergency signals should be different from general signals)?
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What is the signal that the emergency is over?
2. Caring for campers not affected by the incident
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Where should campers go at the signal (one signal for return to cabins, another for meet at a set rallying point)?
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How will you check that all campers are accounted for?
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How will these campers be supervised while the emergency is in progress?
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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:
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Who should be notified in each emergency situation (i.e. Lifeguard, Camp Nurse etc.)?
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Who is responsible for managing the scene of the emergency, including managing any hand over to emergency services?
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Who is responsible for participating in or coordinating searches?
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Who is responsible for caring for the other campers?
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Who is responsible for determining whether to call in emergency services?
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Who is responsible for calling emergency services?
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What should other staff be doing during the emergency?
4. Individual Child Need:
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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)?
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How will these children be monitored and cared for?
5. Locations, Maps and Diagrams:
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Where is the emergency rallying point? Note – this should be away from buildings or treed areas that may be affected by a fire.
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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.
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For a lost or missing child – what are the priority search areas (i.e. bathrooms, cabins, favourite hiding places etc.)?
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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:
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What is the time distance to the nearest emergency services?
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What are the capabilities of the nearest emergency services?
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How will the camp manage each situation for the time it takes emergency services to arrive?
7. Staff Training:
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How will staff be trained in management of emergencies?
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What ‘drills’ will be conducted before and during camp?