In the event an alarm sounds, and there may be a fire in the building, you need to know what happens next. If you are advised that you need to lock yourself and the kids in, then you need to know what to do. 

Citipointe regularly reviews its evacuation, lockdown  and emergency procedures and this includes how we would evacuate the kids from our Kids and Youth programs. The object of an evacuation or lockdown procedure is to ensure an orderly plan of action is followed in the case of an emergency (like a fire or an explosion) so that everyone in a Citipointe Kids or Youth program will know how to evacuate / lockdown all children and adults from or near buildings as quickly as possible, and without panic or injury. 

All of our Locations are different in their building layouts. This section will give you overall guidance. 

At your Induction / Orientation for your position, your Leader will take you through the Evacuation and Lockdown procedures that are specific to the building/area  in which you will be working. You will be told:

• what method is used to indicate an emergency situation, eg some locations' have a 'woop woop' alarm whilst at others a smoke alarm may go off or you may hear someone yell 'Fire. Fire'. For a lockdown, it may be word of mouth or text message. 

• where the fire exits are for the room in which you are working.

• where the Evacuation Assembly area is and what you should do when you get there. 

• how your Location will advise the parents. 

• what your role is in the event we have to evacuate the building.

• what your role is in the event we have to lock down the building. 

Please ask any questions you may have about this topic at your Induction / Orientation. 

Evacuation Principles 

BE PREPARED - BEFORE ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION OCCURS

When you're working with kids, you need to know what's expected of you if an emergency evacuation is called.  

1. When you hear an Alarm 

• If you hear an alarm, you have to leave the building. Regardless of whether you think it's a false alarm or not, by the quickest means possible. 

2. Help evacuate the building 

• If you are with children or teens at the time, you should help get them out. This should be orderly, but help them to move quickly to the Evacuation Area. If you have been allocated a leadership type position, eg a Room Leader, you may have added responsibilities. 

• Leaders should position themselves front, middle and end of the 'line' or group of kids moving to the Assembly area.

3. Meet at the Evacuation Area

• An evacuation area is so that we can determine if everyone got out and the parents have a place to pick up their kids. 

• On arrival at the Evacuation Assembly Area, the Room leader or designated person overseeing kids and youth at the time should access Elvanto check ins and check if anyone is missing. 

• The Fire Warden will undertake a risk assessment of the fire, attempt to extinguish the fire or call 000 and when it is deemed safe to return, he will give the order at the marshalling area.  

• If parents come to the Assembly area to collect their children, they must still present their security sticker in order to take the child or use your knowledge of families to safely release a child into the care of a guardian.

Responsibilities

Room Leader Responsibility

If you are a Room Leader or Grade Leader or hold some level or greater responsibility in the program, you may be asked to do some or all of the following:

• Whatever the method of signing in adults and children, whether by elvanto or hard copy, the list of who was checked in, must be taken to the marshalling area. 

• Each room leader, or designated person overseeing kids and youth at the time of the alarm should be aware of where the nearest fire exit is and quietly, quickly and without fuss, begin to move all children, adult visitors and any other person in the room or program immediately outside and to the marshalling area in the care of the other leaders. 

• The Kids and Youth will be kept under control at the Marshalling area in Room groups or Grades or whatever grouping is decided upon.

• If it is safe to do so, Room leaders should search out the room or area until every adult and child has been evacuated including toilets and play areas. 

Kids or Youth Worker Responsibility

• Assist the Room leader or designated person overseeing kids and youth at the time to lead the kids and youth to the evacuation area. A leader should lead the way, more leaders throughout the line and a leader at the back of the line.

Lockdown Principles 

Lock down procedures should take place where an immediate threat to the lives or safety of Citipointe Church church members, staff, volunteers, visitors and most importantly, those under 18 in our Kids and Youth programs.  Knowing how to quickly respond and act during such incidents is essential to protecting lives and preventing injury. 

A lockdown may be preventative or emergency depending on the situation. A preventative lockdown is initiated when a threat exists in part of the building or the immediate vicinity. The following lockdown procedures should take place for response to a severe storm / dangerous animal / siege / hostage / dangerous airborne particles or similar emergencies where kids and youth  are required to remain indoors or return to buildings. 

Such events might include:  

• A dangerous, unauthorized person on campus (with or without a weapon);

• a dangerous animal loose;

• a siege situation;

• a hostage situation;

• dangerous airborne particles 

• Gunshots fired, or the potential for gunshots to be fired in or near the Campus;

• An emergency situation occurring in the vicinity of the Campus.

Lock all doors and windows, turn off lights and fans and sit under a desk or crowd into a corner and sit the children down. Keep a low profile by sitting on the floor and out of line of sight of doors and windows until the “ALL CLEAR” is given.

Any kids and youth in the toilets at the time should lock themselves in a toilet. 

Encourage everyone to remain seated and calm. Insist on silence. No one may use mobile phones.

When the situation is over, an ‘All Clear” will be given either by phone or in person to the Room Leaders. 

In the event that you witness a dangerous occurrence where the safety of others in jeopardy, alert the nearest Leader, upline or staff member immediately.