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

Emergencies can happen fast power outages, smoke in the air, a gas smell, a medical emergency, or a big storm. When you have a simple plan and you practice it, staff can stay calm and children stay safer. This guide is for Nevada child care providers and directors who want clear steps for what to pack, what to practice, and what to document. Keep it simple, repeat it often, and update it when your enrollment changes. #Nevada #childcare

What supplies and paperwork should we have ready right now?

Think “grab-and-go.” You want items that staff can pick up in seconds, especially if you must evacuate quickly.

Start with one Go-Bag per classroom (or one bag by each exit):

• Water + snacks (consider allergies)

• Diapers, wipes, extra clothes

• Small comfort items (a few board books, a small stuffed animal)

• Flashlight + batteries

• Phone power bank + charging cord

• Whistle (simple way to signal)

• Hand sanitizer + gloves

• Emergency blankets

Ready.gov also recommends storing emergency kit items in easy-to-carry containers and keeping basics like water, food, and light.

Keep these documents in waterproof bags (paper copies):

• Daily child attendance (who is here today)

• Emergency contacts for each child

• Allergy and medication plans (and any required consents)

• Your written emergency plan and reunification steps

• A short list of staff phone numbers and roles

Helpful ChildCareEd resource (plan template):
Sample Childcare Emergency Action Plan: https://www.childcareed.com/r-00319-sample-childcare-emergency-action-plan.html

Helpful ChildCareEd article (Go-Bag idea list):
https://www.childcareed.com/a/your-emergency-go-bag-what-every-childcare-provider-needs-on-hand.html

Quick tip: Set a calendar reminder to check bags every 3–6 months. Replace expired items and update contact sheets.

How often should we practice drills in Nevada, and what drills should we run?

Practice turns panic into a routine. Nevada’s NAC 432A.280 includes drill expectations such as:

• Fire drills at least once every month

• Natural disaster drills at least once every 3 months

Many programs add extra practice for:

• Shelter-in-place (smoke outside, poor air quality)

• Lockdown/secure (unsafe adult nearby, police activity)

Make drills child-friendly:

• Use calm words: “We are practicing to keep everyone safe.”

• Keep it short.

• Praise teamwork: “Great job walking together.”

Train staff on these basics:

• Who grabs the Go-Bag and attendance sheet

• Who counts children and checks bathrooms

• Where to meet outside (primary + backup spot)

• How to call 911 and who contacts families

• Where medication plans are stored #preparedness

Nevada also posts child care training guidance, including emergency preparedness topics.

What training should staff complete to be prepared?

Training helps everyone follow the same steps especially new hires.

Here are 2–3 strong ChildCareEd options that fit this topic:

• Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning Resulting from a Natural or Man-Made Event (Nevada-focused)
  https://www.childcareed.com/courses-emergency-preparedness-and-response-planning-resulting-from-a-natural-or-man-made-event.html

• Emergency and Disaster Preparedness (general, practical)
  https://www.childcareed.com/courses-emergency-and-disaster-preparedness-1.html

• Pediatric First Aid & CPR/AED (helps with medical emergencies during disasters too)
  https://www.childcareed.com/courses-first-aid-and-cpr.html

Simple staffing tip: Put training certificates in one “Emergency Training” folder so you can find them fast during an inspection.

What records should we keep, and how do we document drills and emergencies?

Good records do two big things:

1. They show you practiced and followed your plan.

2. They help you reunify children with families quickly.

Build one “Emergency Binder” (paper) plus a digital backup:

• Emergency plan + evacuation maps

• Drill logs (fire + natural disasters + other practice)

• Attendance sheets and emergency contacts

• Allergy/medication lists (current)

• Incident report forms and parent notification notes

Nevada provides sample forms for daily operations, including a Fire/Disaster Drill form option.

After each drill, document:

• Date and time

• Type of drill (fire, earthquake, shelter-in-place, etc.)

• How long it took

• Who led it

• Any problems (“door stuck,” “Go-Bag was missing wipes”)

• What you will fix (and by when) #documentation

After a real emergency, document:

• What happened (facts only)

• Time line (what staff did and when)

• Injuries/first aid (if any)

• When families were notified and how

• Reunification details (who picked up each child)

Privacy reminder: Store records locked or password-protected. Share only with people who must know.

How do we plan reunification and communicate with families during a crisis?

Reunification is the safe return of children to approved adults. The best reunification plan is short, clear, and practiced.

Pick your sites now:

• Primary reunification site (close, safe)

• Backup site (if the first site is blocked)

Assign clear roles:

• ID checker

• Child runner (brings child to adult)

• Reunification logger (writes time + who picked up)

• Family communicator (sends updates)

Use clear communication tools:

• Text + email + phone (don’t rely on one method)

• A short message template like:
  “We are safe. We are at (site). Bring photo ID. We will update every 20 minutes.”

Some programs use the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) language so staff use the same terms during stressful moments.

During reunification, keep a log:

• Child name

• Adult name + relationship

• ID checked (yes/no)

• Time child released

• Staff initials

What common mistakes should we avoid?

These are easy fixes that make a big difference:

• Outdated contact lists → update weekly or whenever enrollment changes

• Go-Bag stored too far away → keep it by the exit or in each classroom

• Drills happen but no one logs them → assign one person to record every drill

• Staff don’t know their role → practice roles during drills, not during crises

• Medication plans hard to find → keep them in the same binder pocket every time #emergency

Quick FAQ

How often should I check the Go-Bag?
Every 3–6 months (and after any real event).

How often are drills required in Nevada?
NAC 432A.280 includes monthly fire drills and natural disaster drills at least every 3 months.

Do we need a written reunification plan?
Yes—write it, share it with staff, and practice it so it’s not new in a real crisis.

Where can we find training?
Use Nevada-focused and emergency training courses like:
https://www.childcareed.com/courses-emergency-preparedness-and-response-planning-resulting-from-a-natural-or-man-made-event.html