Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
A. The provider shall develop a written
emergency preparedness and response plan for all of its services and locations
that describes its approach to emergencies throughout the organization or
community. This plan shall include an analysis of potential emergencies that
could disrupt the normal course of service delivery including emergencies that
would require expanded or extended care over a prolonged period of time. The
plan shall address:
1. Specific procedures
describing mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies,
actions, and responsibilities for each emergency.
2. Documentation of coordination with the
local emergency authorities to determine local disaster risks and
community-wide plans to address different disasters and emergency
situations.
3. The process for
notifying local and state authorities of the emergency and a process for
contacting staff when emergency response measures are initiated.
4. Written emergency management policies
outlining specific responsibilities for provision of administrative direction
and management of response activities, coordination of logistics during the
emergency, communications, life safety of employees, contractors, students,
volunteers, visitors, and individuals receiving services, property protection,
community outreach, and recovery and restoration.
5. Written emergency response procedures for
initiating the response and recovery phase of the plan including a description
of how, when, and by whom the phases will be activated. This includes assessing
the situation; protecting individuals receiving services, employees,
contractors, students, volunteers, visitors, equipment, and vital records; and
restoring services. Emergency procedures shall address:
a. Warning and notifying individuals
receiving services;
b.
Communicating with employees, contractors, and community responders;
c. Designating alternative roles and
responsibilities of staff during emergencies including to whom they will report
in the provider's organization command structure and when activated in the
community's command structure;
d.
Providing emergency access to secure areas and opening locked doors;
e. Evacuation procedures, including for
individuals who need evacuation assistance;
f. Conducting evacuations to emergency
shelters or alternative sites and accounting for all individuals receiving
services;
g. Relocating individuals
receiving residential or inpatient services, if necessary;
h. Notifying family members or authorized
representatives;
i. Alerting
emergency personnel and sounding alarms;
j. Locating and shutting off utilities when
necessary; and
k. Maintaining a 24
hour telephone answering capability to respond to emergencies for individuals
receiving services.
6.
Processes for managing the following under emergency conditions:
a. Activities related to the provision of
care, treatment, and services including scheduling, modifying, or discontinuing
services; controlling information about individuals receiving services;
providing medication; and transportation services;
b. Logistics related to critical supplies
such as pharmaceuticals, food, linen, and water;
c. Security including access, crowd control,
and traffic control; and
d. Back-up
communication systems in the event of electronic or power failure.
7. Specific processes and
protocols for evacuation of the provider's building or premises when the
environment cannot support adequate care, treatment, and services.
8. Supporting documents that would be needed
in an emergency, including emergency call lists, building and site maps
necessary to shut off utilities, designated escape routes, and list of major
resources such as local emergency shelters.
9. Schedule for testing the implementation of
the plan and conducting emergency preparedness drills. Fire and evacuation
drills shall be conducted at least monthly.
B. The provider shall evaluate each
individual and, based on that evaluation, shall provide appropriate
environmental supports and adequate staff to safely evacuate all individuals
during an emergency.
C. The
provider shall implement annual emergency preparedness and response training
for all employees, contractors, students, and volunteers. This training shall
also be provided as part of orientation for new employees and cover
responsibilities for:
1. Alerting emergency
personnel and sounding alarms;
2.
Implementing evacuation procedures, including evacuation of individuals with
special needs (i.e., deaf, blind, nonambulatory);
3. Using, maintaining, and operating
emergency equipment;
4. Accessing
emergency medical information for individuals receiving services; and
5. Utilizing community support
services.
D. The
provider shall review the emergency preparedness plan annually and make
necessary revisions. Such revisions shall be communicated to employees,
contractors, students, volunteers, and individuals receiving services and
incorporated into training for employees, contractors, students, and volunteers
and into the orientation of individuals to services.
E. In the event of a disaster, fire,
emergency or any other condition that may jeopardize the health, safety, or
welfare of individuals, the provider shall take appropriate action to protect
the health, safety, and welfare of individuals receiving services and take
appropriate actions to remedy the conditions as soon as possible.
F. Employees, contractors, students, and
volunteers shall be knowledgeable in and prepared to implement the emergency
preparedness plan in the event of an emergency. The plan shall include a policy
regarding regularly scheduled emergency preparedness training for all
employees, contractors, students, and volunteers.
G. In the event of a disaster, fire,
emergency, or any other condition that may jeopardize the health, safety, or
welfare of individuals, the provider should first respond and stabilize the
disaster or emergency. After the disaster or emergency is stabilized, the
provider should report the disaster or emergency to the department, but no
later than 24 hours after the incident occurs.
H. Providers of residential services shall
have at all times a three-day supply of emergency food and water for all
residents and staff. Emergency food supplies should include foods that do not
require cooking. Water supplies shall include one gallon of water per person
per day.
I. All provider locations
shall be equipped with at least one approved type ABC portable fire
extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A10BC installed in each
kitchen.
J. All provider locations
shall have an appropriate number of properly installed smoke detectors based on
the size of the location, which shall include at a minimum:
1. At least one smoke detector on each level
of multi-level buildings, including the basement;
2. At least one smoke detector in each
bedroom in locations with bedrooms;
3. At least one smoke detector in any area
adjacent to any bedroom in locations with bedrooms; and
4. Any additional smoke detectors necessary
to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and local
ordinances.
K. Smoke
detectors shall be tested monthly for proper operation.
L. All provider locations shall maintain a
floor plan identifying locations of:
1.
Exits;
2. Primary and secondary
evacuation routes;
3. Accessible
egress routes;
4. Portable fire
extinguishers; and
5.
Flashlights.
M. This
section does not apply to home and noncenter-based services.
Statutory Authority: §§
37.2-302
and
37.2-400
of the Code of Virginia.
