EXPLORE & LEARN INFANTS & TODDLERS

Observation

(1) Emergency preparedness plan is not complete. It is not (b) specific to the toddler site on Court street, (c) does not address what staff will do if they have an emergency and children may be left unsupervised, and (d) does not address what preparations are in place to provide food/water/basic needs for children when parents cannot get to them for up to 3 days. (2) Emergency preparedness plan needs additional detail to include: (a)(i) evacuation floor plan identifying exit pathways (ii) methods to be used for sounding an alarm and calling 9-1-1 and (iii) actions to be taken by a person discovering an emergency. When evacuating children, the emergency preparedness plan does not address the need to take (a)(vi)(D) children's medication when evacuating; (vii) how the provider will maintain staff-child ratio; (viii) how parents may contact the early learning program during the emergency; and (ix) how children will be reunited with parents. (2)(b)(ii)(iii) Earthquake procedures do not address how a provider will account for all children and how the provider will coordinate with local and state officials to determine if licensed space is safe after an earthquake. (2)(c)(i)(ii)(d) Lockdown procedures do not address how windows will be secured, where children will safely stay in the toddler facility on Court street, and how parents will be contacted when the emergency ends. 4)a) There was only one fire drill documented for 2023, it was in January. 4)b) There were no earthquake, lockdown, or shelter-in-place drills documented for 2023. 4)c) Emergency drills have not been conducted with a variety of staff and at different times of the day. 4)d) Emergency drills have not been recorded on the department form with i) the date and time of the drill ii) the number of children and staff who participated iii) the length of the drill and iv) notes about how the drill went and how it may be improved.