Fire Drills

[LysesKids]

We do fire drills without any advance warning or prepping. All of my kids(2 and 3 year olds) know when the alarm sounds exactly what to do. The director goes straight to baby room to help evacuate them, so it goes smoothly. We never take coats, but it is only a few minutes outside and are done on days that are not bone chilling.

Try to do that in a true emergency... in the 2011 AR floods I had to evacuate 5 babies in the cold rain as water was coming into the house (3 feet in 30 minutes in my yard and it was coming in my front door - I lost my car in that as it got flooded)... the back of the home was on a hill and we literally were handing babies out the back window to my neighbors who took them into homes higher up the hill... 2 days later I had to evacuate again when they turned the gas back on and there was a leak & my sensors went off. All my kids were under 18 months at the time. The 2 daycare centers a block away had to wake napping children and evacuate when water came up under there floors too. The lake in my yard disappeared with an hour of the rain stopping

[hwichlaz]

Only licensed for 8. I have a grab n go bag with two large blankets, warm socks, water bottles, and a first aid kit.

I’m concerned that your center doesn’t have a clear path laid out for the cribs. You shouldn’t have to move furniture to escape a fire. That would be a fire code violation here.

[LysesKids]

Only licensed for 8. I have a grab n go bag with two large blankets, warm socks, water bottles, and a first aid kit.

I’m concerned that your center doesn’t have a clear path laid out for the cribs. You shouldn’t have to move furniture to escape a fire. That would be a fire code violation here.

After the flood (which happened again this year in AR in the same areas), I'm surprised more places don't make plans to have an alternative policy in place if evacuation cribs can't be used for babies... can't push babes into the water to evacuate as I learned first hand. It's why I have it set up with neighbors that if my car alarm is set off, they come running

[hwichlaz]

After the flood (which happened again this year in AR in the same areas), I'm surprised more places don't make plans to have an alternative policy in place if evacuation cribs can't be used for babies... can't push babes into the water to evacuate as I learned first hand. It's why I have it set up with neighbors that if my car alarm is set off, they come running

Maybe inflatable life rafts attached under the mattress support

[LysesKids]

Maybe inflatable life rafts attached under the mattress support

I love it... but seriously, it's something that is happening more & more & providers aren't planning for that scenario; I know I had no clue that could have even happened & it was in a house I had just moved to. I bought flood insurance afterwards also even though my area was still not deemed flood zone (several hundred houses 5 minutes from me were). That's when I came up with the idea of having neighbors know I need help when I set off my car alarm - it saved my butt twice now in 6 years

[hwichlaz]

I love it... but seriously, it's something that is happening more & more & providers aren't planning for that scenario; I know I had no clue that could have even happened & it was in a house I had just moved to. I bought flood insurance afterwards also even though my area was still not deemed flood zone (several hundred houses 5 minutes from me were). That's when I came up with the idea of having neighbors know I need help when I set off my car alarm - it saved my butt twice now in 6 years

Are there flash floods where you live? Here if we’re flooding we get a lot of warning. We can easily evacuate while driving is still possible. I just need to watch the water level in my driveway in relation to the tires on my SUV.

[racemom]

Try to do that in a true emergency... in the 2011 AR floods I had to evacuate 5 babies in the cold rain as water was coming into the house (3 feet in 30 minutes in my yard and it was coming in my front door - I lost my car in that as it got flooded)... the back of the home was on a hill and we literally were handing babies out the back window to my neighbors who took them into homes higher up the hill... 2 days later I had to evacuate again when they turned the gas back on and there was a leak & my sensors went off. All my kids were under 18 months at the time. The 2 daycare centers a block away had to wake napping children and evacuate when water came up under there floors too. The lake in my yard disappeared with an hour of the rain stopping

What part of our emergency evacuation plan do you see as not possible in a true emergency?

[LysesKids]

Are there flash floods where you live? Here if we’re flooding we get a lot of warning. We can easily evacuate while driving is still possible. I just need to watch the water level in my driveway in relation to the tires on my SUV.

In some areas I have lived in the past 10 years, yes Flash floods did happen & Where they happened in Fayetteville AR, it had never happened before (2011), however, just last year it happened again in the exact same area because of excessive rain in a short time ( like 30 minutes). Here my street turns into a river every time it's heavy rains & we get warnings for flash floods & major ponding on roads. I know in FL (2002-04) we had excessive water during some rains and you couldn't drive down any street without risking stalling & drowning & sometimes it happened quickly because of a foot or more of water in intersections. The question is, if you found out you couldn't get out, what would you do?

[LysesKids]

What part of our emergency evacuation plan do you see as not possible in a true emergency?

That's what I was trying to point out... some people dress the kids before they pull off drills or they warn the kids. that isn't possible in a true emergency And it wasn't you I was referring too... sorry

[flying_babyb]

Can I ask why you cant have a emergency bag by each exit? The center I work at has a bag hanging by each door that contains two blankets, a roster for all the current kids in the daycare (all the classes), a couple heat packs (squeeze and they pop and heat), and a few rolls of crackers. This way if we have to run out in the snow, we're set! Though if the neighbor is home, she did offer us up her heated garage for an emergency!

[racemom]

That's what I was trying to point out... some people dress the kids before they pull off drills or they warn the kids. that isn't possible in a true emergency And it wasn't you I was referring too... sorry

Ok thanks. I was just wondering, because if I was missing something I wanted to re-examine our procedure. Better to practice the way it would be, then have them not know what to do in a true emergency situation.

[daycarediva]

Emergency shelter in place grab bag. Safety ****ers for the littles, starburst, blow pops and laffy taffy for the olders. Don't forget water bottles, sippy cups.

I do my fire drills at different times of day once a month. Fridays was 12 seconds. Typical time is 20 seconds. 6/1 ratio. Blankets, snacks and toys are waiting for us in our go to place.

Preparation is key.

SAME!

My goal is under 10 seconds. 2 minutes? You're all dead. Fire is MUCH faster than you can possibly imagine.

We have a stocked emergency bag by the front door. It contains parent contact info (doubt I will rush to get my cell from it's designated location in a true emergency). Snacks, diapers, wipes, blankets.

Shelter in place is a closet and contains special treats, quiet games, bubbles, etc.

We are required to do monthly fire drills. Even in winter I pull the alarm randomly and they all RUN to the entry carpet. The door helper throws the shoe cubby outside as everyone else grabs their own coat. Under 10 seconds. We get dressed outside in a true emergency.

Shelter in place drills are every 6 months. I HIGHLY doubt we would ever need to actually shelter in place (rural area, not too exciting here) BUT we practice anyway. To the kids, it's just fun and they get a ****er.

[CityGarden]

I spend a week in September, January and the start of summer going over routines including emergency drills (fire, earthquake, active shooter). I have two grab and go bags one on-site and one at one of our emergency back up locations.

I am licensed for 8 but keep a 1:4 ratio at present which makes it a bit easier. We go to the park daily so the children have daily practice getting in line, holding the rope and getting out. My goal is to get out as quickly as possible, we do not add sweaters, etc. as we would not do that in a real emergency and the weather here does not justify it. I do have light sweaters in the grab and go back that is at the off-site location if needed.

[hwichlaz]

In some areas I have lived in the past 10 years, yes Flash floods did happen & Where they happened in Fayetteville AR, it had never happened before (2011), however, just last year it happened again in the exact same area because of excessive rain in a short time ( like 30 minutes). Here my street turns into a river every time it's heavy rains & we get warnings for flash floods & major ponding on roads. I know in FL (2002-04) we had excessive water during some rains and you couldn't drive down any street without risking stalling & drowning & sometimes it happened quickly because of a foot or more of water in intersections. The question is, if you found out you couldn't get out, what would you do?

We’re on high enough ground that we’d just shelter in place and call for rescue. My son is in search and rescue, and that’s the recommmendation for our neighborhood.

[LysesKids]

SAME!

My goal is under 10 seconds. 2 minutes? You're all dead. Fire is MUCH faster than you can possibly imagine.

We have a stocked emergency bag by the front door. It contains parent contact info (doubt I will rush to get my cell from it's designated location in a true emergency). Snacks, diapers, wipes, blankets.

Shelter in place is a closet and contains special treats, quiet games, bubbles, etc.

We are required to do monthly fire drills. Even in winter I pull the alarm randomly and they all RUN to the entry carpet. The door helper throws the shoe cubby outside as everyone else grabs their own coat. Under 10 seconds. We get dressed outside in a true emergency.

Shelter in place drills are every 6 months. I HIGHLY doubt we would ever need to actually shelter in place (rural area, not too exciting here) BUT we practice anyway. To the kids, it's just fun and they get a ****er.

I have an emergency cell in my go bag... I have limited minutes (Track phone); it's there if I don't have time to grab my regular cell; It's also why you keep a copy of the emergency cards in the bag.
See I do infants... no chance they or I could grab coats in winter - the reason for silver emergency blankets in the bag