Emergency plan rules in Ohio

One of the two required annual disaster preparedness drills must be a tornado drill conducted during the months of March through July. A tornado drill run outside that window does not satisfy it.

Notify the director of health by phone or email when there is an interruption affecting resident health and safety due to an emergency or disaster involving the nursing home.

The plan provides for transport to a predetermined facility if a disaster requires long-term evacuation, backed by a written transfer agreement renewed biannually. A paper and an electronic copy of the plan are kept off-site.

The plan covers evacuation of residents with physical or cognitive impairments, fire protection including when the fire alarm or sprinkler system is under maintenance or inoperative, locating missing residents, severe weather, site-specific disaster potential, and infection prevention and control during an emergency or disaster. A correctly oriented, wall-specific floor plan is posted.

Staff, consultants and volunteers are trained and periodically updated on the disaster preparedness plan. All staff are instructed semi-annually in fire control, evacuation and disaster procedures, and regularly scheduled staff on all shifts receive annual fire prevention training from the state fire marshal or a local fire department.

Keep resident areas between 71 °F and 81 °F and keep a device to check ambient temperature. Keep written policies, developed with the medical director, for temperatures outside that range; evaluate immediately and monitor residents at risk. Keep arrangements with qualified persons for emergency electrical and HVAC service, and complete necessary repairs within 48 hours.

One of the two annual disaster preparedness drills must be a tornado drill conducted during March through July.

Notify the director of health by email or telephone when there is an interruption of normal business services due to an emergency or disaster involving the facility.

Report any fire, damage due to fire, and any illness, injury or death of a resident due to fire or smoke inhalation within 24 hours to the office of the state fire marshal and the Department of Health.

The plan covers evacuation, including residents with impaired mobility and transport to a predetermined facility that can accommodate all residents; fire protection, including a fire watch and prompt notice to the local fire authority and the state fire marshal when detection, alarm or sprinkler systems are impaired; locating missing residents, including notifying local law enforcement; and severe weather, with designated tornado shelter areas. A floor plan is posted in each section or floor.

Maintain written transfer agreements with other facilities that can meet the needs of residents who need transfer. Keep a copy of the plan readily available in the facility at all times and maintain it electronically for off-site access.

Train staff in fire control and evacuation procedures within three working days of starting work. Regularly scheduled staff on all shifts receive annual fire prevention training from the state fire marshal or a local fire department. Train all residents in what to do in a fire, tornado, disaster or other emergency.

Keep resident areas between 71 °F and 81 °F, at a safe and comfortable temperature and humidity, and keep a device to check ambient temperature.

Written policies for temperatures outside the range, immediate evaluation and monitoring, and arrangements with qualified persons for emergency electrical and HVAC service with repairs within 48 hours. Not verified word for word.