Goal of Emergency Plan
The Emergency Plan has been prepared to facilitate a controlled and coordinated response to an emergency or perceived emergency occurring within or impacting Wellington Terrace. The goal is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Wellington Terrace if faced with an emergency.
Emergency Management Process
The Emergency Management Process includes identifying and avoiding or reducing risks, preparing for those that cannot be avoided, activating an emergency plan to respond to an emergency, and returning to normal functioning. This is commonly referred to as the five components of emergency management:
- Prevention: actions taken to stop an emergency or disaster from occurring.
- Mitigation: actions taken to reduce the adverse impacts of an emergency or disaster that cannot be reasonably prevented.
- Preparedness: actions done in advance to ensure the organization is ready to manage a disaster should it arise.
- Response: measures taken immediately before, during, or immediately after an emergency for the purpose of managing the consequences.
- Recovery: the process of restoring an affected community to a pre-disaster or higher level of functioning.
Legislative and Regulatory Framework
The emergency management process takes place within a framework of legislation, regulation, and standards. These statutory documents are in place to ensure a minimum level of emergency management activities are taking place across long-term care homes. Key applicable legislation includes the:
- Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021
- Health Protection and Promotion Act, 1990
- Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, 1990, 3
- Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1990
- Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997
Development of Emergency Plans
When developing and updating emergency plans, Wellington Terrace consulted with the following entities:
- Wellington County Emergency Management
- Centre Wellington Fire Department
- Partner Health Care facilities
- Wellington Terrace Family Council
- Wellington Terrace Resident Council
- Wellington Terrace Joint Health and Safety Teams
- Wellington Dufferin Guelph Medical Officer of Health/ designate
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
As part of a County-wide initiative, Wellington Terrace has gone through an intensive planning and review process to identify risks and hazards that could impede the delivery of critical functions at the Terrace.
These efforts have resulted in the creation of the Wellington Terrace Service Continuity Plan. This plan will help the Wellington Terrace recover its essential services in a timely and coordinated manner.
The Service Continuity Plan includes:
- The Continuity Plan
- Hazard Risk Assessment
- Communication Strategy
- Business Impact Analysis
- Essential Functions for the Terrace Staff
- Technology Contingency Plan
In addition, Wellington Terrace has policy and procedures to guide our emergency management of codes and alerts. Policies include:
- Code Black- Bomb threat
- Code Brown - Chemical threat
- Code Orange - External disaster
- Code Red - Fire
- Code Green - Evacuation
- Code Yellow - Missing Resident
- Code White - Managing Aggressive Behaviour and Threats
- Contaminated Water Response
- Heat Related Illness and Plan
- Power Outage
- Tornado Procedure
- Pandemic Plan (which contains staffing contingency plan and resource stockpiling/ inventory management plan)
- Employee Fan out list
Emergency Plan Components
Each code/ emergency plan has the following components:
- Plan activation
- Lines of Authority
- Staff Roles and Responsibilities
- Plan for recovery
Consultation with stakeholders
Contingency plans for service continuity and provision of essential supplies have been developed with stakeholders. Memorandums of understanding (MOUs) or contracts with emergency service providers have been developed to ensure that response is assured.
- Appendix MOUs
- Appendix Emergency Provider Contact information
Communications Plan
A communications plan which includes a process for ensuring frequent and ongoing communication with residents, substitute decision makers, staff, volunteers, students, caregivers, the Residents’ Council and Family Council and members of the community. Communications will be sent at the beginning of the emergency, when there is a significant status change, and when the emergency is over.
Plan for recovery
After an emergency a debrief is held with effected residents, staff, volunteers and students and a plan is provided to resume normal operations and support those who are experiencing distress due to the emergency.
Appendix Debrief:
Testing and Evaluating Emergency Plans
Emergency Plans are tested using either a table top exercise or a real life simulation of the emergency.
Required testing frequency
Every Year | Every 3 Years |
|---|---|
Outbreaks of communicable diseases, pandemics | Community Disasters |
Fires | Violent Outbursts |
Loss of one or more essential services | Bomb Threats |
Medical Emergencies (Code Blue) | Chemical Spills |
Natural Disasters or extreme weather events | Gas Leaks |
Boil Water Advisories | Evacuation |
Floods |
|
Evaluation
Within 30 days of an emergency being declared over the corresponding emergency policy is reviewed and revised if necessary. Resident and Family Council are consulted with any substantial changes made to the plan or any new risks identified.
Appendix Emergency Exercise Evaluators report
Appendix Fire Drill Observation
Training and Orientation
Wellington Terrace ensures that staff, volunteers and students are trained on the following areas related to emergency management:
- The Residents Bill of Rights
- Fire Prevention and Safety
- Emergency and Evacuation Procedures
- Infection Prevention and Control
In addition, training covers the emergency response to the hazards identified and emergency response protocols.
Retraining occurs annually as per the FLTCH Act