Emergency plan rules in Utah

The plan must be in writing, made available to staff and each resident, and outline how each resident is protected or evacuated, including staff arrangements for residents with a physical or mental limitation. It must cover bomb threat, fire, missing resident, mass casualty, earthquake, windstorm, epidemic, explosion, utility interruption, severe weather and the death of a resident, and address the ten elements in R432-270-25(6), from staff task assignments to the priority list of persons to notify. The administrator is in charge during an emergency.

Hold simulated disaster drills semi-annually. Each year, review the emergency procedures with each staff member and resident and carry out unannounced drills using those procedures.

Drill documentation must record the date, a list of participants, any problems encountered, and the ability of each resident to evacuate.

Posted in public locations throughout the facility: the person in charge, the names and telephone numbers of emergency medical personnel and agencies, the communication and emergency transport systems, the evacuation routes, and the location of fire alarm boxes and fire extinguishers.

Keep ambient air temperatures safe. The person in charge must take immediate action when the ambient air temperature reaches 58 degrees Fahrenheit or below. The licensee must have, and be able to carry out, a contingency plan for excessively high temperatures.

Emergency supplies must include a first aid kit, an emergency radio, emergency lighting, extra blankets, food, heating equipment and potable water. Food service must keep a one-week supply of nonperishable food and a three-day supply of perishable food.

Each staff member and each resident must receive instruction and training on the emergency and disaster plans.

A Type II facility with a secure unit must have an emergency evacuation plan on each secure unit that addresses the ability of the unit staff to evacuate each resident. At least one direct-care staff member must be in the secure unit continuously, and no more than 30 residents may reside in an area enclosed for smoke and fire with controlled egress. Each direct-care employee in the unit receives at least four of the 16 required hours of one-on-one job training in the unit.