Emergency Preparedness

Healthcare Workers
 Session Objectives
You will be able to:
• Identify workplace hazards that could cause
an emergency
• Report emergencies promptly
• Carry out emergency responsibilities
• Evacuate quickly and safely
• Respond to emergency situations effectively

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 What You Need to Know
• Workplace hazards that could lead to an
emergency
• How to report emergencies
• Emergency responsibilities
• Evacuation routes and procedures
• Response to fires and chemical/biohazard
emergencies

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 Are You Prepared?
• How would you react to a fire alarm?
• What would you do in a natural disaster
such as a violent storm?
• Do you know your role if there were a
serious chemical or biohazard incident?
• How would you respond to an act of
violence?

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 OSHA Requirements
• Evacuation and exit
routes
• Alarm systems
• Protective measures
• Training
• Emergency action and
fire prevention plans

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 Types of Emergencies
You Could Face
• Fires and explosions
• Chemical and biohazard incidents
• Natural disasters
• Violence

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 Fire Hazards: Electrical
• Overloaded electrical
systems
• Damaged wires and
cords
• Damaged plugs
• Defective equipment

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 Fire Hazards:
Flammable Chemicals
• Don’t smoke around
flammable chemicals
• Store flammables
properly
• Dispense flammables
properly
• Read MSDSs and
labels

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 Fire Hazards: Smoking
And Housekeeping
• Smoke only in
designated areas
• Make sure cigarettes
and matches are
completely
extinguished
• Keep your work area
clean and neat
• Properly dispose of fire
hazards such as
combustible trash

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 Chemical Release Hazards
• Look for signs of
chemical spills
• Report leaking
containers immediately
• Don’t attempt a
cleanup unless you are
trained and equipped

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 Biohazards
• Contagious diseases
• Infectious
microorganisms in
laboratories
• Foodborne illness
• Mold

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 Natural Disaster Hazards
• Flooding
• Tornado
• Hurricane
• Earthquake

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 Violence Hazards
• Workplace violence
• Civil disturbance
• Terrorist acts

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 Hazard Identification
• Do you understand the
information that has
been presented so far?

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 Be Prepared to Respond
Effectively to Emergencies
• Find out what you need to know now
• Prepare yourself to act correctly
• Participate in emergency drills
• Become familiar with emergency plans and
coordinators
• Keep emergency exits clear

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 Know How to Report an
Emergency
• Location of alarm
boxes
• How to activate them
• Who to call
• What to report

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 Understand Emergency
Responsibilities
• Handle only tasks you’ve been assigned
and trained for
• Understand exactly what’s expected of you
• Carry out responsibilities only if you can do
so safely

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 Patient Evacuation
Responsibilities
• Understand a patient’s
condition before
moving
• Know specific patient
removal procedures
• Be able to locate
assigned safe areas
inside or outside the
facility

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 Know Your Evacuation
Route(s)
• Have at least two
escape routes from
your work area
• Know where
emergency exits are
located in other parts
of the facility
• Know where to go for
roll call once safely
outside

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 Be Familiar with
Evacuation Procedures
• Recognize the
evacuation signal and
listen for instructions
• Alert co-workers and
patients
• Shut down equipment
• Go directly to the
nearest safe exit

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 Evacuation Procedures (cont.)
• Move quickly but calmly
• Follow directions from emergency response
personnel
• Proceed to the assembly area
• Do not leave the area until instructed

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 Notification and
Evacuation
• Questions?

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 Respond Safely to Fires
• Remove yourself from danger
• Trigger the alarm
• Retrieve a fire extinguisher
• Call for additional help
• Continually evaluate the situation for the
necessity to evacuate
• Don’t try to fight large, spreading fires
yourself

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 Fire Response:
Extinguishing Systems
• Portable extinguisher
• Fire hose
• Fire suppression
systems

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 Fire Response:
Extinguisher Types
• A—For combustibles
such as trash, wood, or
paper
• B—For flammable
liquids or gases
• C—For electrical fires
• ABC—Multipurpose

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 Fire Response:
Extinguisher Use
• Pull the pin
• Aim at the base of the
fire
• Squeeze the trigger
• Sweep back and forth

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 Respond Safely to
Chemical/Biohazards
• Evacuate the area
• Shut doors and windows
• Notify a supervisor or the emergency
coordinator immediately
• Remove ignition sources (if safe to do so)
• Do not return to the area until instructed

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 Key Points to Remember
• Fires, chemicals/biohazards, natural
disasters, and violence can cause
workplace emergencies
• Be sure you know evacuation routes,
emergency procedures, and emergency
responsibilities
• Ask if you have questions about emergency
preparedness; don’t wait for a real
emergency

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