Emergency plan rules in Georgia

Emergency egress or escape routes, and whether evacuation is to be complete or — where approved — by selected floors or areas only; procedures for employees who remain to operate critical equipment before evacuating; procedures for assisted rescue of people unable to use the general means of egress unassisted; accounting for employees and occupants after evacuation; identification and assignment of personnel responsible for rescue or emergency medical aid; and the preferred and alternative means both of notifying occupants and of reporting to the fire department.

When an emergency dictates implementation of the plan and results in injury or loss of life, the Department must be notified within 24 hours. This is a reportable-event clock that starts during the response, and the plan should name who owns it.

The community must have a written Disaster Preparedness Plan developed by its governing body. The plan must identify and assess residents' unique needs; cover at least fire, explosion, interruption of each utility, loss of air conditioning or heat, and severe-weather damage to the building; and address staff responsibilities, resident care, notice to attending physicians, transportation and hospitalization, availability of records, alternate living arrangements, emergency energy sources and written agreements with outside agencies.

The plan must be rehearsed at least twice in each calendar year, and the facility must review it at least annually and make appropriate updates. Rehearsals should not require the actual movement of non-ambulatory residents.

The facility must open and maintain an account on the Department of Public Health's web-based emergency operations center, take part at least annually in regional healthcare coalition communication drills or meetings, and keep evidence of contact at least annually with the local emergency management agency coordinator.

As a long-term care facility, the community must have a pandemic plan for influenza and other infectious diseases that conforms to CDC standards, keep a minimum seven-day supply of protective masks, surgical gowns, eye protection and gloves, and update its infection-control policies annually.

Residents and their representatives must be told of a confirmed COVID-19 or airborne-disease case in the facility by 5:00 P.M. the next calendar day.

Emergency preparedness is a required orientation topic for staff within the first 60 days of employment.

Staff of assisted living communities must complete a minimum of 3 hours of initial fire-safety training within 90 days of licensure. The certification expires 3 years after it is issued.

If residents who need assisted self-preservation may not be evacuable to a designated point of safety in time, given staffing patterns, the Department may require the community to conduct an immediate fire safety drill or refer the matter to the State Fire Commissioner.

At least one charged 5 lb multipurpose ABC fire extinguisher on each occupied floor and in the basement, checked annually. Georgia specifies the size and the placement, not just the presence.

The home must have an established procedure and mechanism for alerting and caring for residents in case of emergencies and evacuating them to safety. A plan showing escape routes must be posted on each floor.

A personal care home other than a family personal care home must have a written Disaster Preparedness Plan with the elements in R. 111-8-16-.04, rehearse it at least twice each calendar year, and review it at least annually. It must also keep an account on the Department of Public Health's web-based emergency operations center, take part at least annually in healthcare coalition communication drills or meetings, and keep evidence of contact at least annually with the local emergency management agency coordinator.

In a home covered by Ch. 111-8-16, when an emergency dictates implementation of the plan and results in injury or loss of life, the Department must be notified within 24 hours.

A personal care home with 25 or more beds is a long-term care facility under Ch. 111-8-16. It must have a pandemic plan that conforms to CDC standards, keep a minimum seven-day supply of protective masks, surgical gowns, eye protection and gloves, and tell residents and their representatives of a confirmed COVID-19 or airborne-disease case by 5:00 P.M. the next calendar day.

Staff must be trained in emergency evacuation procedures within the first 60 days of employment.

Staff of personal care homes must complete a minimum of 3 hours of initial fire-safety training within 90 days of licensure. The certification expires 3 years after it is issued.