Emergency Preparedness in Maryland Child Care: What to Have, Practice, and Document - post

Emergencies can happen anytime. This short guide helps Maryland child care providers know what to have, how to practice, and what to document. Keep your #childcare, #Maryland, #emergency, #preparedness, and #documentation goals in mind as you read. 

For Maryland-specific guidance see Are You Ready to Update Your Maryland Emergency Preparedness Plan (EOP)? from ChildCareEd.

What should be in our emergency Go-Bag and supply kit?

Every classroom or exit point should have a ready "Go-Bag." Use a clear checklist and check it often. Here are the must-haves:

1. Information (keep in a waterproof bag):
   • Current attendance list with allergies and medical notes.
   • Parent/guardian contact list and backup numbers.
   • Copy of your written Emergency Plan or EOP — see the ChildCareEd sample Sample Childcare Emergency Action Plan.
2. Medical & first aid:
   • Full first-aid kit and PPE (gloves, masks).
   • Medications that need to travel (follow consent forms and policy).
3. Basic needs:
   • Water (small bottles), nonperishable snacks, diapers, wipes, extra clothes.
   • Small comfort items and books to calm children.
4. Tools & safety items:
   • Flashlight and batteries, whistle, duct tape, multi-tool, emergency blankets.
5. Communications:
   • Charged power bank, battery radio, pen and paper.

Good templates and lists are available from ChildCareEd's Go-Bag article Your Emergency Go-Bag and Ready.gov's supply checklist Make a Kit. Also check local resources like Montgomery County's kit page Make an Emergency Kit.

How often should we practice drills and who does what?

Practice makes calm. Regular drills help staff and children act without panic. Follow these steps:

1. Schedule drills:
   • Monthly fire drills are common. Practice shelter-in-place, evacuation, and lockdown a few times a year.
2. Assign roles before any drill:
   • 👩‍🏫 Who leads the children?
   • 📋 Who carries the attendance list and the Go-Bag?
   • 📞 Who calls emergency services or notifies families?
3. Run age-appropriate practice:
   • Explain simply to children what will happen. Use games like "Sleeping Lions" for quiet drills.
   • Keep a calm voice; children copy adult tone.
4. Debrief and improve:
   • After each drill, write what worked and what to fix. If a door was stuck, fix it now.

ChildCareEd offers training to help your team practice Emergency and Disaster Preparedness (online) and an in-person option aligned with Maryland rules Emergency and Disaster Preparedness (zoom/in-person).

What records and documentation must we keep and how do we organize them?

Good documentation proves you practiced, protects children, and helps licensing reviews. Keep these items up to date and easy to find. Note: state requirements vary - check your state licensing agency.

1. Daily and child records:
   • Enrollment forms, emergency contacts, health and medication forms.
   • Daily attendance and incident/accident reports.
2. Drill and plan records:
   • Drill logs with date, time, who participated, and notes on improvements.
   • A current copy of your written Emergency Plan (EOP). Use templates like the ChildCareEd Emergency Plan form included in their course or the sample action plan.
3. Program records:
   • Staff training certificates, background checks, and communication logs with families.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them:

• ❌ Not updating emergency contacts — fix: check contacts monthly.
• ❌ Storing the Go-Bag where staff can’t reach it quickly — fix: place by a main exit and label it.
• ❌ Skipping drill notes — fix: keep a short drill form and file it in your program binder.

For recordkeeping tips, see ChildCareEd's article Recordkeeping and Documentation Tips for Child Care Providers.

How do we build a practical plan and where can we get help?

Make a plan that your whole team can use. Use local and national resources and keep the plan simple. Follow these steps:

1. Do a risk check:
   • List likely hazards (flood, snow, power loss, medical events). For Maryland specifics, review Maryland EOP guidance and state health resources.
2. Write short procedures:
   • 1) Evacuate — route and meeting place. 2) Shelter-in-place — safest room. 3) Lockdown — who secures what.
3. Train and test:
   • Use courses like Responding to Emergencies and FEMA resources such as FEMA Preparedness.
4. Connect with local partners:
   • ✓ Local health department, emergency services, and county OEM (example: Montgomery County OEMHS).

Keep your plan short, practiced, and posted where staff can see it. Use ChildCareEd templates and courses to support you: online or in-person. FEMA and Ready.gov give child care checklists too (Ready.gov kit).

Conclusion and quick FAQ

Practice, supplies, and records keep children safe and programs ready. A small effort every month pays off big in an emergency.

1. Q: How often update contact lists? A: At least monthly or when a family tells you of a change.
2. Q: Do we need written plans? A: Yes — keep an EOP and drill logs. See ChildCareEd templates here.
3. Q: Who trains staff? A: The director or a trained staff member; consider ChildCareEd training or local EMS guidance like MIEMSS.
4. Q: What about infants and formula? A: Pack infant supplies and check CDC guidance Infant feeding checklist.

You are not alone. Use local county resources, the Maryland health department, and ChildCareEd courses and templates. Keep things simple, practiced, and written down.