Purpose
No one wants to think and worry about disasters. Knowing what to expect ahead of time can help ease any concerns. This fact sheet tells you how our facility has prepared for emergencies.
Scope
We have a written emergency plan that is reviewed and tested every year. Our plan addresses the following types of emergencies:
- Natural hazards such as tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and winter weather.
- Man-made incidents such as bomb threats, terrorism, and active shooters.
- Technological hazards such as power failure, internet failure, and HVAC failure.
All staff is trained on emergency procedures. They participate in drills and exercises to test their knowledge.
Communication
Our emergency plan includes procedures for communication. Notification of families in the event of an evacuation is part of that plan. We ask that you provide us with current phone numbers and notify us as soon as possible of any changes. If time permits, we will attempt to notify you with a personal call in the event of an emergency.
In the event of an emergency, call lines may be out of service or busy. We will do our best to provide a recorded message with detailed information regarding the incident status should phone lines be operational. We have emergency cell phones on each unit. These phones are not monitored or used daily so please do not call or text these phones.
A Wing Emergency Phone – 205-217-0904
C Wing Emergency Phone – 205-217-0425
D Wing Emergency Phone – 205-217-1494
Emergency information will also be posted on the facility website if we are able. The facility website is www.hatleyhealthcare.com.
Evacuation vs Shelter-In-Place
This facility uses a standard approach to managing emergencies. The Administrator serves as the Incident Commander. Department Heads and/or other designated individuals serve specific roles during an emergency. They communicate with staff and local emergency management officials in order to make decisions. One major decision is whether to evacuate or shelter-in-place. The Administrator makes the final decision.
In case of evacuation, we have procedures in place to ensure the safety of our residents. We've made arrangements in advance with other facilities and transportation services to ensure our residents have a safe place to go. Our nurses send important medical information with each resident. They keep a log of where each resident is sent. In case of immediate evacuation, such as with a fire, our safe zone is the front parking lot.
For safety reasons, the Administrator may decide to shelter-in-place. This may occur when there is not enough time to evacuate safely. Sometimes it may be safer inside the building. We have procedures in place to ensure adequate food, supplies, power, and medications for our residents and staff for at least three days. We've made arrangements in advance to receive additional supplies or assistance, if needed.
Lock Down
Some situations will warrant the facility to be placed on “lock down”. During these situations, no one will be allowed to enter or leave the facility. Lock-downs may occur for many reasons, including (but not limited to) a hazardous chemical inside or outside the building, a weather-related event, or police action outside the building. In the event of a lock down, please remain calm and follow any instructions from management staff or emergency personnel.
