A great way to have everyone know what’s in place to keep them safe is to have them see, hear about, and touch what is available. To make it fast and easy, create a short, high-energy safety tour of your office space.

CARD’s safety tour includes: first aid kit, whistles and flashlights at every doorway, evacuation instructions, picture and location of our rally point, fire escape, fire extinguishers, locations of our office go-kit, a nonstructural hazard mitigation display, and a restroom filled with Potty Posters and various  safety supplies.

Thread safety and preparedness components in your usual tour of your space for guests, and be sure that all staff (whether paid or volunteer) participate in a full safety tour as part of their orientation. Make sure your safety tour demonstrates your commitment to preparedness and safety!

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May 17th, 2010 | Tags: Evacuation, hazard mitigation, pottyposters, Safety | Category: 2010, STAT 5MM, Uncategorized | Comments (1)

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July 15th, 2009 | Tags: Evacuation, map, neighborhood, space | Category: 2009, STAT | Leave a comment

One often-overlooked resource your neighborhood might have is simple open space.  Parks, parking lots, golf courses, fields and similar areas provide a place to gather during evacuations or for longer-term sheltering.   Take note of all open spaces near you, and mark them on your local area map.  You can use maps to look up new locations, but this is a great opportunity for staff and volunteers who know the neighborhood to contribute to agency preparedness.

Visit these sites, so you know exactly what you can expect.  Make a point of talking to the owners, caretakers or managers of any space you include in your planning.  There may be other planned uses for the space, safety hazards to consider, fees to pay, or additional resources they can share. Remember: other groups may also be planning on using the space.

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June 15th, 2009 | Tags: Evacuation, map, neighborhood, space | Category: STAT 5MM | Comments (1)

Having the physical space around you support your safety in an emergency is an important preparedness step. And for people unable to quickly evacuate or Drop, Cover and Hold – such as infants or people with physical limitations – it’s absolutely critical.

One of the simplest actions you can take is to clear out key areas. Space under desks, tables etc. needs to have room for people to take cover. Emergency exits must safely open all the way, and the paths to reach exits must be free of clutter and potential blockages. Remember that space is only “clear” if people can move quickly through it even during a confusing, stressful crisis.

Sustain safety by: doing some spring cleaning; dedicating storage elsewhere; scheduling regular cleanups; establishing fines and perks for various safety-related actions; or simply labeling these areas to help people remember.

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June 1st, 2009 | Tags: Evacuation, space | Category: Hazard Reduction, STAT 5MM | Comments (1)

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March 23rd, 2009 | Tags: Evacuation, skills | Category: 2009, STAT | Leave a comment

Many emergencies cause the need to evacuate. These steps can help it go more smoothly in real-time and in a drill.

- Ensure all exits are clearly marked “EXIT”.
- Pre-designate and clearly label a “Rally Point” (and back-up location) — where everyone will meet.
- Make sure all people know about the Rally Points.
- Distribute maps identifying exits and Rally Points.
- Assign people to check that everyone heard the evacuation message and is able to comply.
- Do headcounts before leaving and again after reaching safety.  If you’re in a meeting or other event, sign-in sheets are valuable tools to account for people.

Remember to leave a note telling people where you’ve gone, the time you left, and the route you plan to take – so your friends, family and loved ones will not worry.

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March 23rd, 2009 | Tags: Evacuation, skills | Category: STAT 5MM | Leave a comment

Plan for three different degrees of evacuation from your facility:

• For a small fire or other “minor” emergency, be prepared to get everyone to a nearby rally point, such as in the parking lot or across the street.
• For a larger event, such as a large gas leak or police action, select an appropriate space a few blocks away.
• For a major disaster, be prepared to evacuate entirely out of your neighborhood.

Talk to your community partners about creating reciprocal agreements for evacuations. Figure out how you will transport your staff, guests and clients to your alternate locations.

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April 25th, 2005 | Tags: Evacuation | Category: 2005, STAT | Leave a comment