In case of fire emergency, how will you evacuate 5 children if they're all under the age of 2....non of them are walkers?
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In case of fire emergency, how will you evacuate 5 children if they're all under the age of 2....non of them are walkers?
Everyone's evacuation plan is going to be different based on the lay out of their house. But every quality daycare WILL have an evacuation plan in place and will actually practice that plan from time to time.
Before I opened I had to have a visit from the fire department. Part of the checklist was that I had to have an evacuation plan posted on the wall. My dc layout gives me 2 exits. If there was a fire, trust me, your adrenalin would kick in and you would be superwoman carrying these toddlers out the door. As a former flight attendant we were taught life over limbs during an evacuation.
I have four children (two walkers and two non walkers). They all sleep in separate rooms. Back of my house is highest up from ground and front you could climb from window to ground no problem. My evacuation is to go from back to front, getting all children out of bed. My son is 3 and he knows to go outside (front door or side door) as soon as I say. If playing inside, he is to take little one who can walk and hold her hand to guide her out of house in front of me while I carry other two.
The scary part about it, is depending on the emergency, you may need to alter your plan.
I had a visit from the fire marshall too, courtesy of a crazy neighbour who called and reported me as having an unsafe daycare, ugh! They are gone thank goodness and I'm still here working hard. But it turned out to be a good learning experience for me because the good looking (teehee) fire marshall was kind enough to tell me that even though my apartment only has one door for an exit I have large windows that open in every room so those are also acceptable as fire escape routes.
When we have a fire drill we go out the door of course but if there were a real emergency and we couldn't get to the door I'm on the ground floor and we would be out the window. Make sure you have a plan like that with a definite way out and alternates as well.
This is an area I am worried about as well. We have multiple fire exits and my plan is to grab my girls first as they sleep upstairs and run to the basement with them (this is where my daycare is) and grab the rest of the kids exiting from one of 4 basement fire exits.
I wonder if it would be smarter to put my girls out on the front porch (not enclosed but there is a railing with a gate) as we run past this to get to the basement or should we all stay together. My oldest is 3.5 and youngest 18 mos. I don't know if I feel super safe having them alone on the porch but I wonder if the safety issues with that out weigh the risks of keeping them in the house? Other thoughts?
I would keep them in the house. I would just feel safer that way,
The daycare will be in our basement, and naps will be taken in the basement as well. We've got a ranch-style house and two possible exits - up to the front door, and towards the garage (attached to the basement).
I've got fire alarms on both levels.
My imagination is running away with me here :D....
Desperate scenario: If for some reason we cannot use the two doors, I plan to use the windows that opens to the lawn (fortunately there are no shrubs). Just lift them one at a time, and push them out the window.
Yes, tis true about adrenaline kicking in!