Policy: 124
Crisis Management Plan
Procedure:
The point of contact for residential crisis is the County Residential Coordinator. However should the situation be one requiring major medical, law enforcement, and/or natural disaster the Executive Director is to be called by the County Residential Coordinator. (In his absence, Director of Family Supports will be contacted).
The Executive Director sets in place the:
- Disaster Plan.
- Evacuation Plan.
- Risk Management Plan.
The Executive Director is the point of contact for:
- Law Enforcement Questions.
- Media Questions.
- Board Members.
- SCDDSN.
The Executive Director will make the necessary contact to appropriate authorities.
Should the situation be of a criminal nature, policies regarding abuse or critical incident will be followed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a Crisis?
A: A crisis is any situation that may be life threatening to a participant or a staff member of Marion-Dillon County DSN Board. There are basically three kinds of crisis: Medical, Behavioral and Physical (building/equipment).
Q: How can I tell if a Crisis is occurring?
A: A crisis situation is any situation that occurs during which you as a caregiver or employee feel that your current training level no longer provides you with the ability to properly guarantee the life safety and accountability of a participant.
Q: Who should be called in case of a Crisis?
A: Medical — Nursing staff.
Behavioral/Physical — Whomever is on-call.
Q: If I feel that law enforcement should be called, what should I do?
- If an emergency involving health or safety call 911.
- If not an emergency call your supervisor.
If the supervisor cannot be reached call the next person in the chain of command.
Q: Where are my local emergency phone numbers?
A: They are posted near the telephone in each facility and are also in the phone book.
Q: What should I do if a participant runs away?
- If more than one staff is in duty, follow the participant and second staff should call the County Residential Coordinator.
- If only one staff is on duty, call the County Residential Coordinator, then refer to search plan.
- If not found within 30 minutes call law enforcement and the house supervisor.
Q: What should I do in a medical emergency?
- If you know an emergency situation is occurring, CALL 911.
- If you are in doubt, contact the nurse on call.
- We would rather have an unnecessary 911 phone call than for a participant not to receive the emergency care needed.
Q: What should I do in case of fire?
- Pull the fire alarm, if possible.
- Get the Participants out of the building.
- Call 911.
- Put out the fire, if possible.
- Call the County Residential Coordinator.
Q: What should I do in case of a natural disaster (earthquake, tornado, hurricane)?
- First — make sure all participants are safe.
- Call 911.
- Call the County Residential Coordinator.
- Follow the Disaster Plan.
Q: What should I do in case of death?
- Call the County Residential Coordinator.
- Call the Executive Director.
Q: What should I do in case of a suicide threat?
- Call your supervisor.
- Call the County Residential Coordinator.
Q: What should I do if there is a medication assistance error?
- Call the nurse IMMEDIATELY.
- The nurse will contact the pharmacist and/or poison control.
Q: What form do I use to document a crisis?
A: Begin with the standard incident report form.
Q: How should I complete the form and where should it go?
A: Complete all you can and forward the form to your supervisor or the County Residential Coordinator. The Executive Director is to receive the report in no less than 24 hours.
Q: How do I handle behavioral emergencies?
- Make sure that the other participants are safe (move them away from the participant exhibiting behaviors).
- Use your positive behavior supports training to de-escalate the situation.
- Call your supervisor and report the situation.
- Call the Executive Director if immediate help is needed.