1. (1) The licensee shall develop and implement detailed written plans and procedures to address potential emergencies and disasters including fire, severe weather and missing clients and shall ensure:

   1. (a) written emergency procedures are periodically reviewed and updated;
   2. (b) the emergency plan is available to the staff;
   3. (c) staff receives periodic training on emergency plan procedures;

   4. (d) the emergency plan addresses the following:

      1. (i) evacuation of occupants to a safe place within the facility or to another location;
      2. (ii) delivery of essential care and services to facility occupants by alternate means;
      3. (iii) delivery of essential care and services when additional persons are housed in the facility during an emergency;
      4. (iv) delivery of essential care and services to facility occupants when the staff is reduced by an emergency; and
      5. (v) maintenance of safe ambient air temperatures within the facility and an ambient air temperature of at least 58 degrees Fahrenheit is maintained during emergencies; and
   5. (e) emergency heating is approved by the local fire department.

2. (2) The licensee shall ensure the emergency plan identifies:

   1. (a) the person with decision-making authority for fiscal, medical and personnel management;
   2. (b) on-hand personnel, equipment and supplies and how to acquire additional resources after an emergency or disaster;
   3. (c) assignment of personnel to specific tasks during an emergency;
   4. (d) methods of communicating with local emergency agencies, authorities and other appropriate individuals;
   5. (e) the individuals who shall be notified in an emergency, in order of priority;
   6. (f) method of transporting and evacuating clients and staff to other locations; and
   7. (g) conversion of the facility for emergency use.
3. (3) The licensee shall post emergency telephone numbers near telephones accessible to staff.
4. (4) The licensee shall hold simulated disaster drills semi-annually for staff, in addition to fire drills and maintain documentation for department review.

5. (5) The licensee and administrator shall develop a written fire emergency and evacuation plan in consultation with qualified fire safety personnel and shall ensure:

   1. (a) the evacuation plan shall delineate evacuation routes and location of fire alarm boxes and fire extinguishers;
   2. (b) the written fire emergency plan includes fire-containment procedures and how to use the facility alarm systems and signals;
   3. (c) fire drills and fire drill documentation are in accordance with requirements for buildings under the jurisdiction of the Fire Prevention Board; and

   4. (d) clients are evacuated during at least one drill each year on each shift that includes:

      1. (i) evacuation of clients with physical disabilities;
      2. (ii) filing a report and evaluation on each evacuation drill; and
      3. (iii) investigating problems with evacuation drills, including accidents, and corrective action taken.

KEY: health care facilities

Date of Last Change: December 19, 2023

Notice of Continuation: February 9, 2022

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26B-2-202