2. Emergency Preparedness Training (EPT)
WHAT IS EPT ?
EPT gives staff the skills to properly react to
emergency situations so they can better
protect themselves and assist others until
responders arrive.
Life-threatening emergencies can happen fast
and staff may be able to save a life by taking
simple actions immediately.
TR A IN IN G R EQU IR EM EN TS
On an annual basis, staff are required to
participate in a one (1) hour in-service
training on Emergency Preparedness and
pass a short 15 question test.
3. EMERGENCIES vs. DISASTERS
Emergency - a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation
requiring immediate action
Emergency Examples:
– transport crashes
– power outages
– local floods
– building collapses/fires
When is an emergency really an emergency?
The photographs above show the devastation caused by a building fire.
Most people would consider that this was an emergency, because:
• It probably started quickly and unexpectedly
• The emergency services were required to deal with it
• It caused a large amount of damage to the building and its contents
• A death may have occurred as a direct consequence of the fire
Disaster - a sudden accident or a natural catastrophe that causes great
damage or loss of life
Disaster Examples:
– hurricanes/tornados/earthquakes/floods
– heat waves/cold waves
– technical/biological hazards/terrorism
– pandemic/epidemic
When is a disaster really a disaster?
The photographs to the right show the devastation caused by a hurricane.
Many choose not to define a disaster by its origin/cause but define it according to
its characteristics. These may include:
• Length of forewarning
• Magnitude of impact
• Scope of impact
• Duration of impact
4. Business Continuity & Emergency Planning
You may have heard about Business Continuity Plans - either generally, or in relation to Emergencies or Emergency Planning.
A Business Continuity Plan is put in place to specify how an organization will maintain its operations, services, and/or business, in
the face of a disruptive event.
A disruptive event could be an emergency, such as a fire or flood, or it could be a planned event such as a strike.
In comparison:
• An Emergency Plan is in place for unforeseen events and aims to reduce or minimize the damage - by planning the immediate
reaction to an event
• A Business Continuity Plan is in place for both planned and unforeseen events and aims to maintain or recover business
operations in the most effective way possible - by planning how to deal with the effects of an event
There is a lot of common ground between these two plans and they are often combined or produced to work in tandem.
5. How Can Emergency Planning Help?
Emergency Planning can both reduce the chance of emergencies occurring, and reduce the impact of any
emergencies that do occur, as outlined below:
1. Assessing and reducing the risks to the organization can stop some emergencies from occurring at all
(for example: by relocating stored items away from water pipes).
2. Identifying and implementing preventive measures can reduce the impact of an emergency (for example:
by raising items off the floor).
3. Knowing about the processes and procedures and having the information needed will ensure that the
emergency is dealt with efficiently and business impact will be reduced (for example: by saving time
spent locating equipment or knowing whom to call).
6. COMMUNICATION PLAN
• Internal Communication:
– Owner Helga Pfanner 860-865-8734
– Administrator Suzanne Marvin 860-209-4960
– CEO Alisha Kallajian 860-428-9039
– Clinical Manager Jessica Chappelle 860-514-1372
– Office Manager Shae Goodman 860-931-6531
– Office Assistant Gwen Coy 860-630-0344
* Take the time to put these numbers in your phone.
7. CALLING ORDER IN THE EVENT OFAN EMERGENCY
PHONE TREE
OWNER Administrator
ADMINISTRATOR – Incident Commander
CEO Administrative Staff
CLINICAL MANAGER Patient Care Team
Clinical Staff – RN/LPN/HHA
Therapy Staff – PT/PTA/OT/OTA
PATIENT CARE TEAM
Clients if instructed
8. Patient Care Staff: Once notified, then what?
After receiving notice of an emergency or disaster:
1. Do not leave home until you receive an assignment;
2. Do not ask questions when you are called. This will slow down the response time to the
emergency/disaster;
3. When you receive a call with your assignment, you will receive all the necessary information
about the emergency/disaster and those affected;
4. Wear agency nametag and uniform apparel so you can be easily recognized by other
cooperating agencies;
5. Stay off the phone so your second call can come through.
9. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is worn to prevent exposure to contaminants that cause illness. In healthcare, PPE is vital to infection control,
both for patients and healthcare workers and includes gloves, gowns, headwear, footwear, masks, respirators, goggles, and face shields.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) every organization should establish protocols and provide education on PPE
type necessity, when it is required, proper fit, donning and doffing, maintenance and disposal.
Employers are required to train each employee required to use PPE on the first day of work and annually thereafter. Training should consist of:
• When PPE is necessary
• What kind of PPE is necessary
• How to properly put PPE on, adjust, wear and take it off
• The limitations of the PPE
• Proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE
PANDEMIC & EPIDEMIC
COVID-19 / INFLUENZA/ RSV /MONKEYPOX / ZIKA
Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
10. PPE
Importance of PPE
• The primary goal of PPE is to protect the wearer from pathogens and other contaminants
when providing patient care. Proper use of PPE also affects patient safety within your
healthcare facility.
• It's not only important that healthcare workers wear appropriate PPE, but that you also follow
correct procedures for donning and doffing. Improperly fitted PPE or improper removal of
the items can spread pathogens to the healthcare worker or around your facility.
Limitations of PPE
• PPE is vital to infection control measures, but it's not a perfect solution and comes with
limitations. Aside from COVID-19 pandemic supply issues, daily constraints such as
determining correct fit, challenges with wearing improper PPE while performing clinical
functions, and improper PPE removal posed several challenges.
• All healthcare facilities should ensure that you have equipment available in a range of sizes
to suit all employees.
Importance of proper donning and doffing
• When healthcare workers interact with patients, the correct PPE can provide adequate
protection. However, proper handling of PPE helps ensure that contaminants do not leave
patients' rooms and lead to hospital-acquired infections.
11. The CDC recommends the following basic order for putting on and removing PPE
PUTTING ON PPE
• Gown goes on first and should cover the torso to the knees. Fasten it at the back of the neck and the waist.
• Mask or respirator. Fit check after securing the ties or elastic bands to make sure it's snug.
• Goggles or face shield.
• Gloves. Pull gloves to cover the wrist of the gown.
REMOVING PPE
• Gloves. Assume the outside of the gloves are contaminated and only touch the inside of the gloves. If your hands touch the outside of the gloves, wash your hands or
use sanitizer before proceeding.
• Goggles or face shield. Remove from the back and discard.
• Gowns. Assume the front and sleeves are contaminated. Unfasten ties and pull the gown away from the neck and shoulders only touching the inside.
• Mask or respirator. Remove from the back by grasping the ties or elastic. Do not touch the front.
• Wash hands.
12. Please referto the complete EmergencyPreparedness Policy
forextended information forthe following situations. If you have questions please contact
theAgencyAdministrator.
• Emergency During Business Hours
• Fire Safety
• Bomb Threat
• Active Shooter
• Loss of Water
• Power Outages
• Extreme Heat Protocol
• Extreme Cold Protocol
• Winter Storms
• Hurricanes
• External Hazmat/Bio-Terrorism/Radiation Exposure
• Cyber Attack/Loss of Electronic Systems
• Flood
What To Do & Not Do If An Emergency Happens
Stay in a safe place and tune to your local TV/Radio station for instructions
Do what state/local emergency officials tell you to do
Check to see if anyone around you is hurt and get help for those seriously injured
Dial 9-1-1 ONLY if there’s a life-threatening situation
Make sure your pets are safe and secure
Call one (1) family contact – DO NOT use phone again unless for a life-threatening situation
Check on your neighbors, especially those who are elderly or have a disability
DO NOT go to the hospital unless there is a medical emergency
What To Do When Told To Shelter In Place
Stay Calm
Bring children and pets inside right away
Get your emergency supply kit
Go to a room in your home without windows if possible
Turn on your radio and tune to a local news station for information
Stay where you are until you are told it is safe to move around freely
In an emergency, local officials may not be able to give you information and tell you what to do
right away. Keep checking your local TV/Radio stations and the internet for office news and
information as it becomes available.
13. Emergency Preparedness Inservice Completed
Thank you,
You have now completed the in-service and should understand what emergency preparedness is, and how important it is for our organization. If you
would like to know more about local emergency planning, contact your community emergency management officials, or one of the following resources:
East Lyme (860) 739-4434 Groton City (860) 445-2451 Groton Town (860) 445-2000 Ledyard (860) 464-6400
Lyme (860) 772-7272 Montville (860) 848-1417 New London (860) 442-4444 Old Lyme (860) 434-1605 x212
Waterford (860) 442-9585
United way of Connecticut Informational services serves as the State information hotline - 2-1-1 Infoline
Emergency information will be broadcast 24/7 without interruption over - Connecticut Network (CT-N)
American Red Cross Disaster Officer – (860) 319-8088 or www.redcross.org
Transportation for patients - ctfacility@veyo.com
Tune in via local TV Stations for emergency information:
WFSB – Channel 2 WTNH – Channel 8 WHPX – Channel 26 WVIT – Channel 30 WTIC – Channel 61
Tune in via local Radio Stations for emergency information:
WXLM-980 AM WMRD-1150 AM WICH-1310 AM WLIS-1420 AM
WNPR-90.5 FM WPKT-89.1 FM WNLC-98.7 FM WKNL-100.9 FM
WQGN-105.5 FM WBMW-106.5 FM WIHS-104.9 FM
