What a Disaster
This document outlines procedures staff follow to protect individuals during emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, or fires.
What is the Disaster Plan Procedures?
Staff should check this before allowing someone into the home if they say they are a professional or service provider.
What is identification or credentials?
This occurs when staff and and indivdual become locked in a back-and-forth conflict where each person is trying to gain control.
What is a power struggle?
If a GER involves potential abuse, neglect, or a serious incident, staff must do this immediately.
What is report it to a Manager and follow Mandatory Reporting Procedures?
This technique helps individuals feel heard and understood during a conversation.
What is Reflective Listening?
This is the first thing staff should do when an environmental emergency occurs to ensure everyone's safety.
What is assess the situation and ensure immediate safety of individuals?
If someone claims they are from maintenance or a utility company, staff should do this before allowing entry.
What is confirm the scheduled service or call the company?
One effective strategy to prevent a power struggle is giving the individual this instead of demands.
What is power and choice?
This information must be included if an individual is injured during an incident.
What are details of the injury and medical attention provided?
Instead of interupting, Reflective Listening requires staff to do this first.
What is listen fully before responding?
This is the designated location where individuals and staff meet after evacuating a home.
What is the NWSL main office?
If an individual cannot be located and their whereabouts are unknown, this one-hour reportable event has occurred.
What is missing person or elopement?
This strategy helps reduce escalation by stepping away briefly and allowing the individual time to calm.
What is giving space or allowing a cooling-off period?
Staff should avoid including this type of language when writing a GER.
What are opinions, assumptions, or blaming language?
Reflective Listening helps reduce this during difficult conversations.
What is conflict or escalation?
These items should be readily available in case of disaster and may include flashlights, first aid supplies, and emergency contacts.
What is an emergency preparedness kit/72 hour kit?
When a one-hour event occurs, staff must immediately notify this person according to agency policy.
Who is the manager or hopper when after hours?
This skill involves acknowledging how the individual feels without agreeing with unsafe behavior.
What is validation?
A well-written GER should be clear, factual, and written as soon as possible to ensure this.
What is accuracy?
This type of listening focuses on understanding rather than preparing a response.
What is active listening?
This communication step ensures guardians, supervisors, and appropriate authorities are informed after a disaster or emergency event.
What is notification/reporting according to agency policy?
This type of event requires staff to notify the appropriate authority within one hour of learning about it.
What is a choking, suspicious/unusual death, or arrest?
When supporting individuals, staff should focus on this instead of control.
What is support and safety?
This GER event should be completed if an individual experiences a seizure or other significant medical episode.
What is a medical emergency or medical event?
Reflective Listening is especially useful when an individual is experiencing this emotional state.
What is frustration, distress, or heightened emotions?