La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § I-7271

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section I-7271 - General Provisions

A. The facility shall have an emergency preparedness plan designed to manage the consequences of natural disasters or other emergencies that could disrupt the facility's ability to provide care and treatment or threatens the lives or safety of the clients and/or the community it serves. The emergency preparedness plan shall be made available, upon request or if mandated to do so, to local, parish, regional and/or state emergency planning organizations, the department and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

B. At a minimum, the emergency preparedness plan shall include:

1. identification of potential hazards that could necessitate an evacuation, including internal and external disasters such as a natural disaster, acts of bioterrorism, weapons of mass destruction, labor work stoppage or industrial or nuclear accidents;

2. emergency procedures for evacuation of the facility;

3. procedures in the case of interruption of utility services in a way that affects the health and safety of clients;

4. identification of the facility and an alternate facility to which evacuated clients would be relocated;

5. the estimated number of clients and staff that would require relocation in the event of an evacuation;

6. the system or procedure to ensure that medical charts accompany clients in the event of a client evacuation and that supplies, equipment, records and medications would be transported as part of an evacuation; and

7. the roles and responsibilities of staff members in implementing the disaster plan.

C. The facility shall conduct and document fire drills once per quarter, one drill per shift every 120 days, at varying times of the day. Each employee, either contracted or directly employed, shall participate in at least one drill annually.

D.The facility shall immediately notify the Health Standards Section and other appropriate agencies of any fire, disaster or other emergency that may present a danger to clients or require their evacuation from the facility.

E. The facility shall have access to 24-hour telephone service, and shall either post telephone numbers of emergency services, including the fire department, police department, medical services, poison control and ambulance services or show evidence of an alternate means of immediate access to these services.

F. General Safety Practices

1. The facility shall not maintain any firearm or chemical weapon in the living units of the facility.

2. The facility shall ensure that all poisonous, toxic and flammable materials are safely stored in appropriate containers labeled as to the contents. Such materials shall be maintained only as necessary and shall be used in a manner that ensures the safety of clients, staff and visitors.

3. The facility shall ensure that an appropriately equipped first aid kit is available in the living units and in all vehicles used to transport clients.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-7271

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 37:1169 (April 2011), Promulgated by the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 4369 (1/1/2017).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 28:31-28:37.