emergency evacuation procedure

berry hall — simple actions for volunteers and guests in the unlikely event of an emergency.

introduction

this document sets out simple actions to be taken by volunteers and guests in the unlikely event of an emergency.

a nominated mowana care companion (MCC) volunteer should be identified at the beginning of each shift to oversee an evacuation and ensure the relevant authorities have been notified, if required.

the evacuation safe meeting point is the basketball court adjacent to the playground outside the tramshed community centre. this area is equally accessible whether the evacuation takes place from the front door of berry hall, the gate from the outside fenced area of the hall, or the fire safety door leading out from the lakeside meeting room.

the MCC volunteers on shift are to decide who is responsible for making sure all guests and volunteers have evacuated, and who is responsible for calling the required emergency services. each person has differing areas of comfort and experience regarding emergency response, so the decision needs to be agreed and made quickly.

volunteers on shift should maintain a healthy awareness of what is going on around them in the safe space and keep their mobile phones with them at all times.

examples of emergencies

events that may constitute an emergency include, but are not limited to:

fire
storm / tempest leading to damage of the building
gas leaks
aggression or violence

actions

identify and assess the threat — does it warrant an evacuation?

determine avenues of exit — is the safest exit the front door, the berry hall entry door, the lakeside meeting room fire safety door, or the gate from the outside area?

have any necessary authorities (fire, police, ambulance) been contacted?

can everyone be accounted for?

is everyone ok?

if you are the nominated MCC leading the evacuation, ensure the directions you give guests and other volunteers are calm, clear and without ambiguity. it is recommended that you view the guest log book app so you can ensure all guests are accounted for and safe.

who to call

000
nsw police / ambulance–paramedics / fire & rescue. use this if there is a serious threat, harm or injury to a person or property requiring an emergency response. all volunteers on shift should be informed if you intend to call 000.

(02) 9971 3399
dee why police — for police attendance that is not an emergency. northern beaches police area command covers our area. it’s recommended all volunteers save this number in their phones.

northern beaches police area command have a pacer (police, ambulance and clinician early response) mental health clinician on shift at certain times (not 24 hours). the clinician may assist if a guest is having a mental health crisis requiring an emergency response. the police supervisor on duty generally determines if a pacer attends, but you can request their attendance if they are available and the situation is appropriate.

post-event management

be mindful that some guests may experience anxiety or other responses to an evacuation or emergency, and may need assistance and support after the event.

document and report the event by filling out an incident report (accessible in the drop-down menu of the better impact app).

each mcc should write a report if they are responsible for separate actions, such as calling emergency services or making sure everyone is evacuated.

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