MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF

GEORGIA

EMERGENCY FIRE HANDBOOK

Date Adopted: March 2, 2019

Table of Contents

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INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................5
What is an Emergency?…...........................................................................................5
What is Emergency Management?…..........................................................................5
EMERGENCY CONTACTS...............................................................................................6
Life Threatening Emergency Numbers.......................................................................6
Non-Life Threatening Emergency Numbers…...........................................................6
Medical/ Miscellaneous Facility Numbers..................................................................6
BUILDING INFORMATION..............................................................................................6
EMERGENCY CHAIN OF COMMAND..........................................................................7
Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC)............................................................7
Chief Responsibilities......................................................................................7
In the Case of an Emergency, the EMC will...................................................7
Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator (AEMC)..........................................7
Chief Responsibilities......................................................................................7
In the Case of an Emergency, the AEMC will.................................................7
Safety Officer...............................................................................................................8
Chief Responsibilities......................................................................................8
In the Case of an Emergency, the Safety Officer will.....................................8
Department Assistants.................................................................................................8
Chief Responsibilities......................................................................................8
In the Case of an Emergency, the Department Assistants will........................8
Director of Communications........................................................................................9
Following an Emergency, the Director of Communications will....................9
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES...........................................................................................9
Emergency Telephone Procedures...............................................................................9
Building Alarms..........................................................................................................10
EVACUATION PROCEDURES........................................................................................10
Evacuation Procedure.................................................................................................10

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 Staff.................................................................................................................10
Department Assistants.....................................................................................11
EMC/ AEMC/ Safety Officer..........................................................................11
POST-EVACUATION/OFFICE CLOSURE PROCEDURES.........................................12
FIRE PROCEDURES...........................................................................................................13
If You Find A Fire.......................................................................................................13
If You Are Trapped in A Room..................................................................................13
If You Are Caught in Smoke......................................................................................13
If You Have To Advance Through Flames.................................................................13
FIRE EXTINGUISHER.......................................................................................................14
Directions For Operation (Remember P.A.S.S)…......................................................14
MOUTH-TO-MOUTH BREATHING (A-B-C METHOD)..............................................15
Airway.........................................................................................................................15
Breathing.....................................................................................................................15
Circulation...................................................................................................................15
POWER FAILURE...............................................................................................................16
What To Do During A Blackout..................................................................................16
ELEVATOR FAILURE........................................................................................................16
If You Become Trapped in An Elevator......................................................................16
EVACUATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES...................................................17
In All Emergencies After an Evacuation Is Called For...............................................17
Blindness or Visually Impaired...................................................................................17
Deafness or Hearing Loss............................................................................................17
Mobility Impaired.........................................................................................................17/18
FIRE PREVENTION TIPS...................................................................................................19
FIRE SAFETY CHECKLIST...............................................................................................20
LAYOUT OF OFFICE………………………………..……………………………………21
EMPLOYEE CHAIN OF COMMAND LIST…….……………...…….…………………22

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INTRODUCTION

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This Emergency Handbook has been created as a way to introduce safety management and
commitment to our staff as well as any visitors we may have in our office. This handbook
delivers information regarding Make-A-Wish Georgia’s emergency safety plans. Included are the
various responsibilities of each employee at our chapter.
Workplace safety is a very important and crucial component to our chapter, as well as the entire
Make-A-Wish Foundation. This policy provides our staff as well as any visitors we might have
with a safe environment to work in. Employees must comply with the policies set forth by the
foundation and agree to report any and all instances of unsafe conditions to a supervisor or
anyone in the emergency chain of command.

What is an Emergency?
An emergency is any sudden or unexpected situation that can cause personal injury, death to
anyone in the office, can disrupt business operations, can cause damage to property, can threaten
the organization’s financial wellbeing, or image to the public, and therefore, requires instant
attention and corrective action.

What is Emergency Management?

Emergency management is the process of developing or maintaining plans to prepare, mitigate,
respond to, and recover from an emergency. Having plans developed will only help if there are
drills put in place, training available, and equipment is tested regularly. This document serves as
a form of emergency management.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

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Life Threatening Emergency Numbers
Police/Ambulance/Fire…………………….911

Non-Life Threatening Emergency Numbers

Building Security………………………....(404)-956-8674
Local Police Department…………………(770)-434-9481
Local Fire Department……………………(770)-528-8000

Medical Facility Numbers

Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital…………….(770)-644-1000 (less than a mile away)
Northside Hospital………………………..(770)-792-1234 (9 miles away)
Georgia Poison Center…………..………..(800)-222-1222 (13 miles away)

BUILDING INFORMATION
As an employee at Make-A-Wish Georgia, it is crucial for you to be familiar with this handbook.
After reading it carefully, if you have any questions at all, speak with your supervisor or the
Emergency Chain of Command. It is important to also keep in mind the following:
● Office exit points, proper evacuation routes, and the location to meet at after evacuation.
● How to properly evacuate the building.
● When to evacuate the building.
● Location of all emergency supplies such as; first aid kits, fire extinguishers, fire pull
alarms.
● Fire hazards & prevention.
● Proper procedures for notifying emergency services in your area.
Address of Building: Make-A-Wish Georgia
1775 The Exchange SE Ste 200,
Atlanta, GA 30339

Description of Location: The Triangle Building

2nd Floor, Suite 200.

Evacuation Assembly Point: SECOND ROW OF PARKING LOT.

EMERGENCY CHAIN OF COMMAND

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For a Chain of Command list with names, see Page #22.
Emergency Management Coordinator
The Emergency management coordinator (EMC), has primary responsibility over management
of any activity regarding development, implementation, and review of tactile emergency
management decisions.
Chief Responsibilities
● Sustain and conserve the Emergency Handbook.
● Designate Emergency Management team members.
● Prepare/train Safety Officer & Department Assistants.
● Hold regular meetings to review the handbook with appointed team members.
● Expedite emergency management training for employees.
In the Case of an Emergency, the EMC will...
1. Evaluate the emergency and determine the appropriate actions.
2. Make the decision to evacuate the office and commence evacuation.
3. Collect appropriate materials such as; Emergency Handbook, Employee roster with
Emergency contact information.
4. Delegate responsibilities to Emergency Management Team.
5. Initiate and maintain contact with emergency personnel.
6. Proceed with business continuum procedures once the building is cleared.

Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator (AEMC)

The Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator assists the EMC and assumes the
responsibilities in the absence of the EMC.
Chief Responsibilities
● Provide support to the EMC in coordinating the Emergency Management Team.
● Attend regular meetings to review the handbook with appointed team members.
● Assist in emergency management training for employees.
In the Case of an Emergency, the AEMC will...
1. Assist the EMC with emergency management commencement.
2. Help the Department Assistants with evacuation procedures.
3. Provide assistance to persons with disabilities.
4. Help the EMC with business continuum procedures once the building is cleared.

Safety Officer

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The Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring the office environment to ensure all conditions
are safe, and up to code.
Chief Responsibilities
● Recognize and improve unsafe workplace conditions.
● Partakes in regular safety inspections to keep the office operations safe.
● Informs staff on potentially unsafe actions and offers corrective actions.
● Ensures that all safety equipment is accessible and it its correct location.
● Attend regular meetings to review the handbook with appointed team members.
● Assist with office evacuations, and emergency procedures.
● Help with business continuum procedures once the building is cleared.
In the Case of an Emergency, the Safety Officer will…
1. Communicate to the building security to inform them on the incident.
2. Assist the EMC with emergency management commencement.
3. Help the Department Assistants with evacuation procedures.
4. Conduct and report any damage to the office.
5. Ensure that all staff has congregated to the designated assembly point.

Department Assistants
Department Assistants are members of staff who have additional responsibilities during an
emergency. This includes helping with evacuation or calling roll succeeding an emergency. This
position is appointed and personally trained by the EMC.
Chief Responsibilities
● Help the EMC with commencing evacuation procedures.
● Inform staff members when an evacuation is initiated.
● Conduct an inspection that all staff members and visitors have evacuated the office
following a fire alarm.
In the Case of an Emergency, the Department Assistants will…
1. Inform the staff members and any visitors in the office of an initiated evacuation.
2. Examine all office areas, (bathrooms, break room, offices, filing room, copy room, and
conference rooms), to ensure everyone has evacuated effectively.
3. Evacuate the office effectively and assemble outside at the designated meeting point.
4. Commence roll call once everyone has safely evacuated.
5. Provide the EMC with verification that the building was cleared, or any information of
anyone still remaining in the building.

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Director of Communications
The Director of Communications serves as the one and only person associated with Make-A-
Wish Georgia who is appointed to give any news releases. All information will need to be
approved by the EMC, ensuring that official statements are issued by those authorized to do so.
The news media liaison will also be in charge of any and all telephone inquiries from the public
concerning the incident.
In the Case of an Emergency, the Director of Communications will…
1. Inform other Make-A-Wish chapters of any incident that occurs.
2. Prepare discussion points for all media inquiries.
3. Speak on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Georgia chapter regarding any emergency
incidents.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Emergency Telephone Procedures
When calling any emergency numbers, always make sure to call from a safe location away from
the emergency situation. Remember to:
● Remain as calm as possible.
● Be prepared to tell them who you are and provide your name.
● Inform emergency personnel of any useful information, such as if there are any injuries.
● Stay on the phone call until the dispatcher says it is okay to hang up.
● Prepare yourself to answer these questions:
○ Where is the emergency located?
○ What kind of emergency is this?
○ What caused the emergency situation?
○ What time did the incident occur?
Knowing as many answers to the above questions will help the emergency personnel better
assess the situation. You do not need to know every single answer. Provide as much information
as you can. Give a number, and a safe location for the emergency personnel to call or meet you
and wait for them at that safe location.

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BUILDING ALARMS
Our building and office are equipped with both visual and audible alarms for emergency
situations. The audible alarm is a buzzer that you can distinctly hear, while the visual alarm is a
white strobe light that you can very easily see. The audible buzzers can typically be heard very
loudly throughout the entire building. These are located on the ceilings of almost every room.
The visual alarm consists of a very bright strobe light to catch your attention in case you are
unable to hear the alarm. These are typically placed throughout hallways and are usually six feet
above the floor level on the wall.
Emergency alarm pull boxes are also located by the exits in the office. Only pull an evacuation
alarm if there is a true emergency. This will automatically call for emergency assistance. When
you see or hear the emergency alarms going off, vacate the building and proceed to the safe
assembly place outside of the building.

EVACUATION PROCEDURES
Anyone occupying our office during the time of an emergency evacuation must, by law,
immediately exit the building and meet at the assembly point, which is located in the second row
of the parking lot. Whether occupants hear/see the fire alarms, or the EMC directs the office to
evacuate, it is very important for your safety to comply.

Evacuation Procedure
When given the cue to evacuate the building the following must occur:

Staff
1. Immediately stop working
2. Remain calm. Do NOT panic.
3. Collect any personal items if it is safe to do so. This can include anything you cannot go
without for many hours until the building is cleared. (keys, purse, medication, phone,
glasses)
4. If at all possible, close all office doors, but do not lock them.
5. Proceed to the nearest safe exit.
6. DO NOT USE THE ELEVATOR. (Unless there is no other way)
7. Walk to the designated meeting location.
8. Remain at the meeting location and wait for further instructions.

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Department Assistants
1. Inform the staff and occupants of the office, that an evacuation has initiated.
2. Instruct people to go to the closest exit.
3. Verify that all offices and common rooms have been checked for anyone remaining in the
building.
4. Assist anyone with disabilities get to the assembly point.
5. Proceed to the nearest safe exit.
6. DO NOT USE ELEVATOR. (Unless there is no other way)
7. Walk to the designated meeting location.
8. Complete the staff and visitor roll call.
9. Remain at the meeting location and wait for further instructions.

EMC/AEMC/Safety Officer
1. Inform any emergency personnel that needs to be made aware of the incident.
2. Conduct a final search for anyone remaining in the building.
3. Proceed to the nearest safe exit.
4. DO NOT USE ELEVATOR. (Unless there is no other way)
5. Walk to the designated meeting location.
6. Communicate with the Department Assistants and double check roll call.
7. Report if anyone from the office is unaccounted for to emergency personnel.
8. Remain at the meeting location and wait for further instructions.

** Refrain from re-entering the building or office until you have been given
permission from emergency personnel that it is safe to do so. **

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 POST EVACUATION / OFFICE CLOSURE PROCEDURES
Remain calm, stay together, and patiently wait for roll to be called. Do not leave the meeting
point until given permission by emergency personnel. Do not re-enter the building after an
evacuation. If employees are sent home, the decision to do so would be authorized by the CEO,
the vice president, or by the EMC.
In the event that employees are forbidden to re-enter the building after evacuation, the EMC will
be responsible for staying up to date on when it is safe to resume work. If the building is closed
the day following the incident, the EMC will keep staff up to date each evening, until the office
is safe to resume work. If an employee is unreachable, the EMC will contact a family member
and let them know of the office closure.

FIRE PROCEDURES

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When given the cue to evacuate the building the following must occur:

If You Find a Fire

1. If the fire is small, (trash can size), you are permitted to attempt to put it out using a fire
extinguisher.
2. If the fire is uncontrollable, immediately pull the nearest fire alarm.
3. Find a safe location, call 911, and report the fire to seek help.
4. Initiate the emergency evacuation procedures.

If You are Trapped in A Room

1. Close and all doors between you and the fire.
2. Call 911 if possible and report your situation. Call for help if there are windows in the
room.
3. If possible, wet any clothing material and place it under the door frame to ensure little to
no smoke enters from under the door.
4. If there is a window and your calls for help go unanswered, break the window.
5. Remain calm until emergency personnel can assist you.

If You Are Caught in Smoke

1. Lay low, and crawl on your hands and knees to the nearest and safest exit.
2. Do not breathe in smoke, hold your breath as much as possible.
3. Use a shirt or clothing material of some sort as a filter to breathe through. Breathe
shallowly. This will prevent you from inhaling smoke into your lungs.

If You Have To Advance Through Flames

1. Hold your breath.
2. Cover your head and any hair that could catch flame.
3. Keep your head down, and keep your eyes closed to protect them from the fire.
4. Move rapidly to avoid over exposure to the fire/heat.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER OPERATION

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You should only use a fire extinguisher if the fire is about the size of a small trash can, or
otherwise controllable. Any larger, or more uncontrollable fires need professional help. In this
case, pull the fire alarm and initiate Fire Procedures.
There are various classes for types of fires. Class A fires are classified as anything involving
plastic, wood, cloth, or paper. Class B fires include any flammable liquids. And finally, Class C
fires involve any type of electrical fire or a fire involving an appliance. A “Class ABC” fire
extinguisher is designed to combat any of the above classes of fires.
Should a fire extinguisher be used at all, it will need to be replaced. In the event that a fire
extinguisher needs to be replaced, the responsibility will fall to the Safety Officer to complete
that task.
Directions for use of a fire extinguisher: (Remember P.A.S.S)

1. Pull the safety pin located on the handle.

2. Aim the hose towards the bottom of the fire. (Stand at least 10 feet away)
3. Squeeze the lever to release the fire repellant.
4. Sweep from side to side.

MOUTH-TO-MOUTH BREATHING (A-B-C METHOD)

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In the event that someone is unable to breathe on their own, the top priority is to assist. Waiting
for help could be dangerous or fatal. You must first check for signs of breathing. Tap the victim
and ask them, “Are you Okay?” If they fail to respond, point to someone and shout for them to
call for help. Then, proceed as follows.

Airway (Open airway)

1. Put the heel of your hand on the victim’s forehead to keep it in place.
2. Take your other hand and lift the victim’s chin.
3. Angle the victim’s head back to open airway. DO NOT DO IF YOU SUSPECT
HEAD/SPINAL INJURY.
4. Check for breathing for up to 5 seconds. If there is still no breathing proceed...

Breathing (Help victim breathe)

1. Pinch the victim’s nose.
2. Place your mouth over the victim’s mouth.
3. Slowly, give the victim two full breaths.
4. Allow the victim’s lungs to completely empty following each breath. Then...

Circulation (Check for circulation)

1. Take two fingers and feel for a pulse on the side of the victim’s neck. This will be located
to the side of their windpipe.
2. Check again for breathing, this time for up to 10 seconds.
3. If there is still no sign of a pulse, begin Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Only do
this if you have been properly trained. If you have not been trained, proceed with mouth-
to-mouth until help arrives on the scene.

POWER FAILURE

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During business hours, if a power failure occurs the Safety Officer is responsible for informing
the building security.

What To Do During A Blackout

1. Make sure all light switches are turned off.
2. Turn off or unplug any, and all appliances.
3. Check if anyone is in the elevators. If there are report it to building security and
emergency personnel.
4. If the power outage lasts more than a few minutes, begin to move people to naturally lit
area where there are windows available.
5. If an evacuation is necessary, protect valuables, and proceed with the evacuation
procedures.

ELEVATOR FAILURE
If You Become Trapped in an Elevator
1. Do not Panic. Remain as calm as possible.
2. Call for assistance using the emergency phone.
3. If the elevator lacks an emergency phone, initiate the emergency alarm (red button) to
call for help.
4. Emergency personnel will arrive soon to assist you.

EVACUATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

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In All Emergencies After an Evacuation Has Been Called For
1. Assist anyone with disabilities with evacuation if possible.
2. Refrain from using elevators unless given permission by authorized personnel.
3. Engage in the buddy system. Those who need assistance should have a designated buddy
in the event of an evacuation or emergency.
4. If a person is in danger and is unable to wait for professional assistance, attempt a rescue
evacuation.
5. Always be sure to ask someone with a disability if they require assistance Prior to you
helping them. Also, make sure to ask if they need assistance with any necessary
equipment they might need.

Blindness or Visual Impairment

1. Ask the person if they need a buddy for the evacuation.
2. Proceed to give them verbal instructions to lead them to safety.
3. Only latch on to a person with a disability if you are given permission to. Ask if it is okay
to grasp their arm to lead them to a safety exit.

Deafness or Hearing Loss

1. Use eye contact or touch the person to get their attention.
2. If you have to touch the person, refrain from grabbing them from behind. This can be
confusing and would frighten anyone, whether they have a disability or not.
3. Clearly communicate the emergency situation.
4. Use gestures or point if this helps to communicate the problem. Be prepared to write it
down if they do not understand.
5. Ask the person if they need a buddy for the evacuation.
6. Proceed to give them visual instructions to lead them to safety.
7. Only latch on to a person with a disability if you are given permission to. Ask if it is okay
to grasp their arm to lead them to a safety exit.

Mobility Impairment
If anyone in the office has a mobility impairment, you may need to ensure they have a safe route
to exit the building. This may include moving debris in order for them to have access to the
safety exit. If the person is unable to safely exit, they should relocate to a safer place away from
the emergency. Inform emergency personnel of their situation and location in the building so
they can be rescued.
For anyone who has a disability, make sure to be your own advocate. Make rescue personnel if
there are any items you need to take with you in the event of an emergency evacuation. Know the

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easiest and safest ways to relocate your equipment and be prepared to tell emergency rescuers
precise instructions. For example, you could communicate like this:
“Please make sure to bring my…
● Insulin, located here.
● Oxygen tank, located here.
● Wheelchair, located here.
● Cain, located here.
● Glasses, located here.
● Medication, located here.
● Etc.

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