Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital 2016 Annual Competency 1

A number of severe weather hazards affect Kansas including thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, flash floods, large hail and damaging winds. Being familiar with hospital procedures before a natural disaster is imperative to decreasing damage, and more importantly, injury or death. 2

PURPOSE OF THIS COMPETENCY: To provide guidelines to all employees for conducting themselves and assisting patients and visitors in a safe and planned manner when threatening weather conditions exist that may result in a tornado watch, warning, or an actual occurrence. 3

Tornado Watch Issued when conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop. Watches usually cover large geographic areas for an extended period of time. Tornado watches are issued by the National Weather Service and relayed by local media. 4

Tornado Warning A funnel shaped cloud or a tornado has been sighted in the area or is indicated by radar. When a tornado warning is issued, take tornado precautions immediately. 5

Designated “Safe Area” The operating rooms in Surgical Services. 6

All employees should take precautions, anticipate and gather equipment, monitor the weather radio, and be aware of patient census and visitors in the area. Patient census will be communicated by each department supervisor to the CEO or Administrator-on-call (AOC). 7

If a tornado warning is issued in Sedgwick County or the immediate area and the hospital is in the anticipated path of the tornado, the CEO or AOC will direct the following overhead announcement be made TWICE: “All Personnel: Attention Please, Weather Alert” 8

In order to utilize the emergency intercom system (which broadcasts announcements throughout the hospital, including the O.R. suites) employees must enter #37 into the phone prior to making the announcement. 9

Personnel will take the following steps: Close all doors, windows and blinds in the area. Make only emergency calls until the “All Clear” is given. Provide extra blankets to patients and visitors. Non-clinical Areas: Assist visitors to the designated safe area and instruct them to assume a crouching position covering their head. Transport extra wheelchairs and chairs to the safe area. As directed by CEO/AOC, assist clinical areas in transporting patients and/or patient care equipment to the safe area. 10

Clinical Areas: Personnel begin to move patients and any visitors to the safe area. Move patient care equipment needed to care for patients to the safe area. Maintain appropriate space in corridors for personnel to move safely among patients. Ambulatory patients should be provided a chair if unable to assume the crouching position and all patients provided with a blanket and instructed to cover their head. No surgeries or procedures will be started during a “warning”. If a surgery is already in progress, the surgeon will be notified by OR staff of the status. 11

Emergency Response to an Occurrence: The CEO/AOC will activate the Hospital Incident Command System and Emergency Operations Plan will be initiated. In the event of a direct hit, be cautious in any area for downed power lines, fractured gas lines and broken water pipes. Heavy rainfall and hail often accompany tornadoes so hail damage and flash flooding are definite risks following a tornado. 12

Establishing an “All Clear” CEO/AOC will direct the following announcement be made TWICE: “Attention: All Clear, Weather Alert” 13

After the “All Clear” is given: All personnel will assist in restoring work areas to normal operations. Personnel will assess their department for damage or safety hazards and report to their supervisor. After patient care areas have been evaluated for damage and safety hazards, patients may be moved back to patient care areas. If a patient care area is not in habitable condition, alternative accommodations will be made. 14

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1.Being familiar with policy and procedures prior to a natural disaster can decrease damage, injury and death. True or False 2.Only clinical employees are responsible to conduct themselves and assist patients and visitors in a safe and planned manner when threatening weather conditions exist. True or False 3.A tornado warning is issued when conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop. True or False 4.A tornado warning is called when a funnel shaped cloud or a tornado has been sighted in the area or is indicated by radar. True or False 5.When a tornado warning is issued, take tornado precautions immediately. True or False 16

6. A tornado watch is more dangerous than a tornado warning. True or False 7. Where is the designated safe area? ___________________________ I 8. If KSSH is experiencing a tornado watch, non-clinical staff should assist visitors to the designated safe area and instruct them to assume a crouching position. True or False 9.If KSSH is experiencing a tornado warning and is in the anticipated path of the tornado, patients and visitors should be moved to the safe area. True or False 10. After an “All Clear” is called, all personnel will assist in restoring work areas to normal operations. True or False 17