At Cathy’s Village, the safety of your child is our top priority. While we hope we never face an emergency, we are fully prepared with plans and training to keep children safe and calm. Below you’ll find the steps we teach our students, what parents need to know, and our specific procedures for fire, earthquake, or shelter-in-place situations. In case we need to evacuate, we have permission to go to 7851 Sterling Drive via the gate in the lower yard.
Things We Teach Our Students
- If you catch on fire, stop, drop, and roll until the fire is out. Be sure to cover your face.
- Ask your parents to teach you: mom’s and dad’s name, where you live, and your phone number.
- If there is an earthquake (when everything feels like it’s shaking), duck and cover. Get under a table if you can and cover your head. Listen for instructions. Stay there until you are told it is safe.
- Ask mom and dad to teach you a fire drill.
- Rules are for a reason—follow them to protect yourself.
- If something bad has happened to mom or dad, call 9-1-1 to get help. Stay on the phone and do what the voice tells you to do.
- Hold the adult’s hand to cross the street and to cross railroad tracks. Stop, look both ways, and listen first.
- No is no. Your body is yours.
What Parents Need to Know
- We have enough supplies, water, and first aid to sustain us for over a week.
- If necessary, check the emergency info on the fire extinguisher wall in the playroom.
- We are required to call licensing to let them know where we are and what our status is. Please be patient, as all daycares will be doing the same.
- Our first plan is to stay in the house if it is safe.
- Our second plan is to move to the backyard, where we have camping equipment to sustain us.
- Our third plan is to relocate to the Eastmont Mall Library area at 7200 Bancroft in Oakland.
- I have everyone’s number and all emergency numbers in my phone. Please text (rather than call) when possible, to conserve battery and avoid alarming the children.
- Licensing will only release your child to someone with an ID who is on the list you provide. Police or other agencies may assist if necessary.
- I must follow protocol—please be respectful and wait for my instructions. I will let you know when it is safe to pick up your child. If I am unable, the authorities will contact you when they are able.
- Parents should not approach or be within sight/sound of the children until clearance is given.
- Licensing Phone Number: 1-844-LET-US-NO
If There Is a Fire
- Whether you hear the alarm or not, crawl under the smoke to the exit.
- Go to the front of our cars and wait for an adult to cross the street. We will go three houses away from the fire. Yell “FIRE! HELP!” until someone comes.
- If in the backyard, go to the lower level and yell “FIRE! HELP!” until someone comes.
- Emergency numbers are on the fire extinguisher wall in the playroom and in Ms. Cathy’s phone.
- Follow the relocation plans listed above.
- Licensing will be called. The fire department must clear the property before we may return.
If There Is an Earthquake
- Whether you hear the alarm or not, get under a table and duck and cover.
- Stay quiet and listen for adult instructions. Remain under the table until told it is safe.
- Follow the relocation plans listed above.
- Parents may provide a gallon-sized bag with comfort items (labeled with your child’s name) to keep with emergency supplies.
- Licensing is the first number I am required to call. If you cannot reach me, you may contact licensing directly. Please be patient—your children are my first concern.
- If we must leave, authorities will tell us when it is safe to return.
If There Is a Shelter in Place
- We will not set off an alarm. All doors will be locked, curtains closed, and everyone will stay indoors.
- If we are outside, we will come in quickly and quietly.
- We move away from windows and doors.
- We remain very quiet and as calm as possible.
- Parents will be notified by text that we are in lockdown. Please reply only to acknowledge; I must keep lines open for instructions from authorities.
- Parents must stay away until given clearance—it is important for both your safety and your child’s sense of calm.
- I will let you know as soon as it is safe to return. I understand this can be difficult and frustrating, but please be patient and allow me to follow the authorities’ directions.
- Children will be released only when it is confirmed safe to do so.
✨ These procedures are in place to protect every child and ensure families have peace of mind. Thank you for trusting us with your children—we take this responsibility with the utmost seriousness.