IMPORTANT PLEASE READ!
Post date: Nov 27, 2019 3:52:41 PM
Team,
The message below is from Tim Olson. As Member Service staff we need to be prepared and ready at all times for a Code call of any kind and know what to do in each situation. We go over all of these topics in our monthly meetings but due to time constraints cannot cover all of them each meeting. We HAVE to have our radios on at a volume that we are able to hear them in case a Code call is made. If you hear inappropriate discussions being had over the radio please report them to me immediately so the individuals having those conversations can be addressed. Below in the attached document is all of our safety procedures. I would like each of you to read through them all. If you have any questions please ask Sabrina or myself for clarification.
Staff,
This past Friday around 1 PM there was Code Adam called for a missing child. One of our YDC kids on the Y Gym Track decided to exit the door on the track by the elevators to go explore the Y. Even though the child was found and everything turned out ok, we had a major breakdown in responding to this emergency. In this situation a Code Adam was called but nobody responded. It wasn't until a staff person heard on another person's radio that there was an issue that they then went and told another staff. By the time the staff checked on the situation the child had been found in the building. As a team we need to look at this situation and learn from our mistakes so that in the next emergency situation we respond appropriately. Below I have listed our current procedures and some learning points from this past Friday's situation.
As a refresher here is our current procedure:
CODE ADAM: Lost or stolen child
1. Staff responding announce: CODE ADAM________ (area).
2. Alert staff as to description of child/adult over walkie talkies and also page staff over phones.
3. Building is locked down via management-nobody in/nobody out.
4. Management staff is assigned to exits and don't allow anyone to leave or enter; If the child or child/adult is spotted then notify staff or police.
5. Director in charge confirms situation, and notify authorities and parents.
6. After all clear, Director in charge will fill out incident form.
7. After incident has ended, signal all clear over walkie talkies. If evening/weekend, MSD enact resolution process. Enact crisis communication plan.
Reminders/Learning Points:
Walkie-Talkies = These are a vital link of communication in our large facility, especially in an emergency. We all need to do a better job of having our walkie-talkies turned on and ready to go so that we can hear what is going on within our facility. You also need to get in the habit of carrying your walkie-talkie around the facility with you when you get up from your desk. It does no good for communication if yours is sitting on your desk or charger and you are elsewhere in the facility.
Walkie-Talkie Etiquette = I know some staff have turned down there volumes due to all the chatter, negative, inappropriate things that sometimes get said on the radios. Everyone needs to remember that these are open airways and our members can hear what is being said. Please make sure that only appropriate things are being said on the radios and that we limit the banter back and forth. I know that sometimes we are just having fun with each other but we don't need our members hearing all of this.
All Call on Phone System = In an emergency situation we need to make sure that we also use the All Call Button on our Phone System to alert all other YMCA Staff about the Emergency Situation.
Don't Assume Other Are Going to Respond = Everyone needs to respond (all levels of staff) to emergencies, that is why we are trained. Once you arrive to emergency, if you are not needed you will be called off. We also have staff out of the building at different times for meetings, vacation, sick, etc... so that is also why it is important to have everyone respond.
Thank you for your attention to this.