1. (a) Within thirty (30) days of licensure and within thirty (30) days of any change or modification of the floor plan, the facility shall file a copy of their floor plan with the local office of emergency management, including the following (Arkansas Code § 20-78-228, Acts 2013, No. 1159):

   1. (1) A schematic drawing of the facility and property used by the childcare facility, including the configuration of rooms, spaces, and other physical features of the building;
   2. (2) The location or locations where children enrolled in child care spend time regularly;
   3. (3) The escape routes approved by the local fire department for the childcare facility;
   4. (4) The licensed capacity and ages of children per room at the facility;
   5. (5) The contact information for at least two (2) emergency contacts for the facility; and
   6. (6) An aerial view of the childcare facility and property used by the childcare facility shall be included with the floor plan if available.

2. (b)

   1. (1) The facility shall have a written plan detailing the procedures to follow in the event of emergencies (fires, floods, tornadoes, utility disruptions, bomb threats, etc.).

   2. (2) The plan and procedures are required for emergencies that could:

      1. (A) Cause structural damage to the facility; or
      2. (B) Pose a health or safety hazard to the children and staff.
   3. (3) The Division of Emergency Management may identify additional threats that are covered by the plan and procedures.
   4. (4) This plan shall include provisions for sheltering in place or lockdown in the event of situations that warrant these measures.

3. (c) The written plan shall include the following information:

   1. (1) Designated relocation site and evacuation route;
   2. (2) Procedures for notifying parents of relocation;
   3. (3) Procedures for ensuring family reunification;

   4. (4) Procedures to address the needs of individual children, including children with:

      1. (A) Special needs;
      2. (B) Disabilities; and
      3. (C) Chronic medical conditions;
   5. (5) Procedures and documentation for annual training of staff regarding the plan and possible reassignment of staff duties in an emergency; and
   6. (6) Plans to ensure that all staff and volunteers are familiar with the components of the plan.
4. (d) The facility shall coordinate with local emergency management officials to plan for emergencies.

5. (e)

   1. (1) The facility shall maintain on-site a current copy of the Arkansas Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan issued by the division.

   2. (2) This plan shall be:

      1. (A) Reviewed by the facility director; and
      2. (B) Signed and dated, indicating that they:

6. (i) Have reviewed the current plan; and

   1. (ii) Agree to comply with the provisions of the plan.
7. (f) Written procedures and evacuation diagrams for emergency drills shall be posted in each classroom.

8. (g) Fire and tornado drills shall be practiced as follows:

   1. (1) Monthly;
   2. (2) On separate days and at different times of the day;
   3. (3) Everyone in the facility, to include all program types (i.e., infant and toddler, preschool, school-age), at the time of the drill shall participate in the drill;
   4. (4) Staff, including volunteers and substitutes, shall be trained in emergency drill procedures;
   5. (5) During all hours when children are in care (evenings, nights, weekends, etc.); and
   6. (6) If applicable, the facility shall provide a crib with evacuation casters or equivalent that will provide one (1) bed for every six (6) infants, twelve (12) months and younger, that may be used for the safe evacuation of the infants.

9. (h)

   1. (1) The facility shall maintain a record of emergency drills.

   2. (2) This record shall include:

      1. (A) Date of drill;
      2. (B) Type of drill;
      3. (C) Time of day;
      4. (D) Number of children participating in the drill;
      5. (E) Length of time taken to reach safety; and

      6. (F) Notes regarding any items that need improvement.

         1. (i)

   3. (1) The facility shall maintain an evacuation pack that shall be taken:

      1. (A) On all drills; and
      2. (B) During actual emergency evacuations.
   4. (2) The pack shall be easily accessible in an emergency, and all staff shall know the location of the pack.

   5. (3) The evacuation pack shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

      1. (A) List of emergency numbers;
      2. (B) List of all emergency and contact information for children;
      3. (C) List of all emergency and contact information for staff;
      4. (D) First-aid kit (20 CAR § 1025-1201(f)) with extra gloves;
      5. (E) Kleenex;
      6. (F) Battery-powered flashlight and extra batteries;
      7. (G) Battery-powered radio and extra batteries;
      8. (H) Hand sanitizer;
      9. (I) Notepad and pens or pencils;
      10. (J) Whistle;
      11. (K) Disposable cups;
      12. (L) Wet wipes; and
      13. (M) Emergency survival blanket.

10. (j)

    1. (1) The facility shall immediately notify the Child Care Licensing Unit of any:

       1. (A) Extended utility outages; or
       2. (B) Significant damage to the building or grounds.
    2. (2) If phone service is not available, notification shall be as soon as service is restored or available.

11. (k)

    1. (1) Childcare centers shall:

       1. (A) Maintain a log of all child product recalls and safety notices:

          1. (i) Issued by Consumer Product Safety Commission; or
          2. (ii) Distributed by the Office of the Attorney General; and
       2. (B) Post or otherwise make these notices available for parents to review on-site.

    2. (2) The facility director shall certify, on an annual basis, that:

       1. (A) These notices have been maintained and reviewed; and
       2. (B) Any identified items have been removed from the facility.

    3. (3) Forms for self-certification:

       1. (A) Will be provided by the childcare licensing specialist; and

       2. (B) Shall be submitted annually.

          1. (l) There shall be no alcoholic beverages in any part of the facility during hours of care.
          2. (m) Illegal drugs or paraphernalia shall not be in any part of the facility or on the premises, regardless if children are present or not.
12. (n) All medications and poisonous substances shall be kept in separately locked areas.
13. (o) Rescue medications such as inhalers or EpiPens shall be inaccessible to children (kept in a cabinet with a child proof type safety latch or carried by a staff member).

14. (p)

    1. (1) All detergents and cleaning supplies shall be kept out of the reach of children.
    2. (2) This does not include hand soap in children’s or staff bathrooms.
15. (q) Supplies used for children’s activities shall be carefully supervised.
16. (r) All bags belonging to children shall be checked on arrival to eliminate possible hazards.
17. (s) Purses and bags belonging to staff shall be stored out of reach of children.
18. (t) Electrical outlets shall be guarded.

19. (u) Balloon use shall be carefully supervised.

    1. (v) Staff shall be instructed in the use of fire extinguishers.

20. (w)

    1. (1) The facility shall maintain smoke detectors and fire extinguishers as required by the fire department.

    2. (2) Smoke detectors shall be kept in working order at all times.

       1. (x) Chemicals and toxins shall not be stored in the food storage area.

Codification Notes: This section, as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules, contained the following at the end of subdivision (b)(1) of this section: “(Act 801 of 2009)”. This section contained the following at the end of subdivision (k)(3)(B) of this section: "(Act 1313 of 2001)".