Lesson 8-Responding to Situations and Emergencies
There are four ways you will provide for a client’s safety and well-being:
Follow up
Take the time to follow up on any concern or problem you see happening with a client. Always talk to the client or other care team members if you see a problem, read any notes other care team members may have written, or take action to help resolve a situation.
Following up can also mean advocating for a client. As a caregiver, this includes alerting others (including the client) that:
Safety Habits that Prevent Accidents
Checklist for home safety and environmental hazards
Practicing good safety habits that prevent accidents gives a client a sense of physical security
Handling Emergencies
In an emergency, you may be the only person to provide or get help. Ask questions, plan, and think about handling emergencies soon after you begin working. Statistics show that many kinds of emergencies occur during a person’s first weeks or months on the job. From day one, make emergency awareness and preparedness a priority.
Emergency planning in your care setting
When working in an adult family home or boarding home, ask your supervisor about the policies and procedures for responding to work place emergencies.
When working in a client’s home, discuss the emergency procedures and evacuation plan the client wants you to use. If no formal emergency procedures exist,
Talk about emergency planning with the client, a member of his/her family, the case manager, or a trained community emergency response person. This is particularly important when a client needs help to evacuate. Refer to the client’s care plan for further instructions and information.
Calling 911 for help in an emergency
The appropriate “first” response to a fire, medical, or police emergencies depends on the situation. In almost all cases:
You will also want to know who to contact once the emergency has been handled. IPs can check on the client’s Service Summary for people’s names and telephone numbers. If working in an adult family home or boarding home, check with your supervisor about where these numbers may be kept or if you are the person to make the call.
Response to a fire
Planning ahead and knowing how to respond to a fire is important to you and the client’s safety. You will want to know the location of telephones, flashlights, and the emergency evacuation procedures, etc.
The appropriate “first” response to a fire emergency often depends on the situation. In general, follow the guidelines listed below.
Always get your client to safety before you do anything else.
Call 911 and report the fire - use a cell phone or a neighbor’s phone.
Stay as low as possible when exiting, there is less smoke closer to the floor.
If you discover a fire, use the word R.A.C.E. to remind you of the safest way to respond.
R = Rescue. Remove everyone from the immediate vicinity.
A = Alarm. Sound an alarm or call for assistance.
C = Confine the area. Close doors and windows in the area.
E = Extinguish. Extinguish the fire if it is confined to a small area and if you feel confident to do so.
- Follow up on any concerns or problems you observe.
- Practice good safety habits that help prevent accidents.
- Be aware of environmental hazards and take precautions where you work.
- Be prepared to recognize and handle emergencies.
Follow up
Take the time to follow up on any concern or problem you see happening with a client. Always talk to the client or other care team members if you see a problem, read any notes other care team members may have written, or take action to help resolve a situation.
Following up can also mean advocating for a client. As a caregiver, this includes alerting others (including the client) that:
- A client has additional personal care needs that are not being met;
- You are aware of other services available in the community that may be helpful for a client;
- You know of additional equipment or assistive devices that would give a client more independence;
- A client has certain preferences that are not being followed.
Safety Habits that Prevent Accidents
Checklist for home safety and environmental hazards
Practicing good safety habits that prevent accidents gives a client a sense of physical security
Handling Emergencies
In an emergency, you may be the only person to provide or get help. Ask questions, plan, and think about handling emergencies soon after you begin working. Statistics show that many kinds of emergencies occur during a person’s first weeks or months on the job. From day one, make emergency awareness and preparedness a priority.
Emergency planning in your care setting
When working in an adult family home or boarding home, ask your supervisor about the policies and procedures for responding to work place emergencies.
When working in a client’s home, discuss the emergency procedures and evacuation plan the client wants you to use. If no formal emergency procedures exist,
Talk about emergency planning with the client, a member of his/her family, the case manager, or a trained community emergency response person. This is particularly important when a client needs help to evacuate. Refer to the client’s care plan for further instructions and information.
Calling 911 for help in an emergency
The appropriate “first” response to a fire, medical, or police emergencies depends on the situation. In almost all cases:
- Make sure the client is safe before you do anything else.
- Call 911 for help in any situation you think might be an emergency or problem. When calling 911:
- Briefly describe the problem;
- Give your address and the nearest major street or intersection;
- Stay on the phone and follow the directions of the emergency operator.
You will also want to know who to contact once the emergency has been handled. IPs can check on the client’s Service Summary for people’s names and telephone numbers. If working in an adult family home or boarding home, check with your supervisor about where these numbers may be kept or if you are the person to make the call.
Response to a fire
Planning ahead and knowing how to respond to a fire is important to you and the client’s safety. You will want to know the location of telephones, flashlights, and the emergency evacuation procedures, etc.
The appropriate “first” response to a fire emergency often depends on the situation. In general, follow the guidelines listed below.
Always get your client to safety before you do anything else.
Call 911 and report the fire - use a cell phone or a neighbor’s phone.
Stay as low as possible when exiting, there is less smoke closer to the floor.
If you discover a fire, use the word R.A.C.E. to remind you of the safest way to respond.
R = Rescue. Remove everyone from the immediate vicinity.
A = Alarm. Sound an alarm or call for assistance.
C = Confine the area. Close doors and windows in the area.
E = Extinguish. Extinguish the fire if it is confined to a small area and if you feel confident to do so.