MDH Earthquake Preparedness Program
Policies and Procedures
Policies:
1. There shall be
an earthquake preparedness program in
Preparedness program for possible
internal disaster (earthquake affecting the hospital infrastructure and people
inside the hospital at the time of the earthquake)
Preparedness program for possible
external disaster (earthquake affecting people outside the hospital brought or
in the process of being brought to the hospital)
2. Internal disaster plan during earthquake
Hospital Earthquake Response Plan
will be activated.
Unit Earthquake Response Plan will
be activated.
3. External disaster plan during earthquake
Sudden influx of patient disaster
plan will be activated – with precautions of placing patients in safe places
within the hospital.
External disaster plan will be
activated as needed.
4. There shall be an earthquake drill at least once a year.
Procedures in the Formulation
of Hospital / Unit Earthquake Preparedness Program / Plan
Ensure structural safety as
evidenced by Structural Safety Certificate
Conduct constant infrastructure watching
and monitoring activities
to
identify safe and unsafe spots in the hospital
to
identify potential falling objects and structures during the earthquake and
remedy
Identify evacuation
route
Use
established fire exit route
Never
use elevators
Identify evacuation
sites
Open
spaces
Outside the hospital building
Away from electric poles
Away
from potential falling objects and structures
Formulate Hospital / Unit
Earthquake Response Plan
Response
during the shake
Response
after the shake
Indications
for evacuation
Management
of confined patients during earthquake
Design and implement Hospital /
Unit Earthquake Drill
Hospital / Unit Earthquake Drill
1. An
earthquake drill plan will be prepared.
2. The
earthquake drill will consist of seven phases if there is a need for
evacuation. Otherwise, it will consist
of three four phases (alarm, response during shake, response after shake, and
evaluation).
Phase 1. Alarm
A pre-arranged signal in
the form of a siren will be known to all.
During the drill, the
siren indicates earthquake or “shaking.”
All hospital staff and
clients will be alerted by this signal or siren.
Mechanics: Siren for 1
minute through the hospital public address system.
What all people inside the
hospital should do:
Keep calm and do not panic. Think through any action you might take for the consequences it may cause.
Phase 2. Response during the shaking
While the siren is
ongoing, which indicates an earthquake is ongoing -
What all people inside the
hospital should do:
General instructions:
Stay where you are. Move only a few steps to a nearby safe place. Do not go inside a room, if you are
outside. Do not go outside a room if you
are inside.
If inside the room,
For ambulatory persons (staff, visitors, and patients):
Open the door to prevent possible
jamming. You may stand under the door
frame.
Move away from windows, glass, light
fixtures, bookshelves, or any structure that could fall on you.
“Duck, cover and hold” under sturdy tables if present.
Stand
or sit near concrete columns.
Watch out for falling objects.
For bed-ridden patients:
Have a pillow on their heads to protect them from falling objects.
For
staff and patients in the operating, delivery, and treatment rooms:
If
in the middle of an operation or procedure, stop for a while but make sure
there is NO ongoing bleeding, oxygenation is maintained, and the life of your
patients is NOT unduly compromised.
Watch
out for falling objects and be ready to protect the patients and yourself.
For staff in the Dietary and Facility management departments:
If working with a machinery and cooking, shut down the machinery, switch off cooker, and extinguish any flames. If cannot do so quickly, stay away from the machinery or flame and shut it down as soon as the earthquake has stopped.
Remain
in this position until the “shaking” stops.
If outside a room – in the lobby, along a corridor or
hallway, on the stairs, etc.
Stay where you are. Move only a few steps to a nearby safe place.
Move away from windows, glass, light fixtures, or any structure that could fall on you.
Stand or sit near concrete columns.
Watch out for falling objects.
Remain in this
position until the “shaking” stops.
If inside the elevators:
Get off at
the next floor and follow instructions under “if outside a room”.
Phase 3. Response after the shaking
Once the “shaking” stops -
What all people inside the
hospital should do:
Be
alert.
Prepare for possible evacuation.
Listen for evacuation announcement or order.
Watch
out for fire, potential explosion, gas leaks, damage to electrical system,
damage to water system. Turn off gas,
electrical and water lines if indicated.
Report cracks on the wall to hospital authorities.
Phase 4. Evacuation
Once there is a call for
evacuation -
What all people inside the
hospital should do:
Evacuate
the hospital building and proceed using pre-determined routes to go to
identified evacuation areas. (T.M. Kalaw
St. and UN Avenue are the identified evacuation sites or holding areas for MDH
during earthquake.)
DON’T…Run, DON’T Push, DON’T Talk, DON’T Return, DON’T bring
your things. DON’T STAMPEDE.
Never use elevators. Use the
stairs if still available and functional.
If not, use the fire escape route.
While walking along the corridors to the nearest exit of
the building, be alert and look out for falling debris.
Patients confined to beds and disabled people – wait for hospital
evacuation teams to assist you.
*See also MDH Policies
and Procedures on Evacuation During Times of Disaster.
Phase 5. Monitoring of confined patients
and injured individuals in evacuation areas
At the designated
evacuation areas, all evacuated confined patients as well as injured individuals must be
monitored not only in terms of head count but also medically as indicated.
*See also MDH Policies and Procedures
on Evacuation During Times of Disaster.
Phase 6. Reconstruction
After the earthquake
has cleared and there is a declaration of structural safety for return to the
hospital, all evacuated persons and valuables are transferred to designated
places.
Phase 7: Evaluation
An evaluation of the drill
must be conducted to identify problems encountered during the drill and how
this can be corrected in future earthquake drills.