Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PROCEDURE
FOR WORKERS/PROVIDERS/VOLUNTEERS
This procedure is for workers/providers and volunteers who are working with a person they
support, whether in their own home, out in the community, in the person’s home, or as a
FamilyHome provider. Emergencies can include fire and evacuation, flooding, power outage,
storms, flu pandemic, medical emergency (inside and outside) and when an individual runs away
or is missing.
During the course of carrying out the duties of your role with EAFWR, should you
experience fire, flooding, power outage, storm damage or like circumstances:
 Remove yourself and the person you are supporting to a safe place if the location you are
in is unsafe;
 Call Emergency services if required (911) and attend to any first aid requirements;
 Contact the person’s parent, guardian, decision-maker or emergency contact;
 Contact Extend-a-Family Waterloo Region (emergency on-call if after hours) to report
the situation.
If there is a fire emergency at the location you are at:
 Ensure that you know the evacuation escape route;
 Never use an elevator as an escape route;
 Remove yourself and the person you are supporting following the evacuation escape
route to a safe collection point;
 Call emergency services (911) if not already called) and attend to any first aid
requirements;
 Contact the person’s parent, guardian, decision-maker or emergency contact;
 Contact Extend-a-Family Waterloo Region (emergency on-call if after hours) to report
the situation.
If the person you are supporting goes missing:
 Follow the protocol for the program or for that individual if they have one;
 If there is no protocol:
o Begin an immediate search;
o Call the person’s parent, guardian, decision-maker, emergency contact;
o Contact Extend-a-Family Waterloo Region (emergency on-call if after hours) to
report the situation.
 In the absence of the person’s parent, guardian, decision-maker or emergency contact, the
Extend-A-Family Coordinator or on-call staff will make the decision when to call the
police for assistance.
If there is a medical emergency:
A medical emergency is an urgent need for assistance or relief that arises unexpectedly.
 If in a vehicle, pull over to the right side of the road;
 Call 911 for emergency medical service (EMS) and answer the dispatcher’s questions
until told to hang up;
 Give necessary first aid care;
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Advise the EMS personnel of any Health Care Directives on file for the person;
If they will be making a transfer to a hospital ask to which hospital they will be taking the
person;
Call the person’s parent, guardian, decision-maker, emergency contact;
Contact Extend-a-Family Waterloo Region (emergency on-call if after hours) to report
the situation.
You will be required to fill out a report (Incident Report, WSIB Report) concerning the incident
to the appropriate internal person as to what has happened in all of the above emergency
situations.
Always ensure that you have all contact numbers available and are aware of any health
care directives for the individual.
In the case of flu or a flu pandemic refer to the “Precautions for Infection Control of
Respiratory illness” document.
July 25, 2013