CDC Fire Drill & Lockdown Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a fire drill, a child with mobility impairment cannot use the stairs. What is the correct action for daycare staff?
- Wait with the child inside until the fire department arrives
- Carry the child down the stairs immediately
- Use a pre-planned evacuation assist procedure and designated area of rescue assistance (Correct answer)
- Have the child shelter in a locked bathroom until all-clear is given
Correct answer: Use a pre-planned evacuation assist procedure and designated area of rescue assistance
Centers must have written plans for evacuating children with disabilities, including designated areas of rescue assistance and specific staff assignments.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of taking attendance after a fire evacuation?
- To document compliance with the drill requirement
- To confirm all children and staff have safely exited the building (Correct answer)
- To identify which children need additional fire safety training
- To report headcount data to licensing authorities
Correct answer: To confirm all children and staff have safely exited the building
Attendance must be taken at the assembly area to verify every child and staff member has evacuated safely.
Question 3: A lockdown is initiated while half the children are on the outdoor playground. Staff should:
- Evacuate all children off-site immediately
- Lock the building doors and leave playground children in place until authorities arrive
- Quickly bring all outdoor children inside, lock all exterior doors, and follow lockdown protocol (Correct answer)
- Call each child's parent to pick up from the playground
Correct answer: Quickly bring all outdoor children inside, lock all exterior doors, and follow lockdown protocol
If it is safe to do so, staff should quickly retrieve outdoor children, secure the building, and implement lockdown procedures.
Question 4: How should a daycare center communicate a drill's upcoming schedule to families?
- Keep it confidential to simulate real emergency conditions
- Notify families in advance per center policy so they are not alarmed (Correct answer)
- Post the drill date on social media one hour before
- Only notify families if a child has a medical condition
Correct answer: Notify families in advance per center policy so they are not alarmed
Most centers notify families in advance so that parents are not alarmed by the drill and children with anxiety can be prepared.
Question 5: Which item is essential to bring during a fire evacuation from a daycare center?
- Each child's weekly meal plan
- The emergency contact and attendance roster (Correct answer)
- The center's financial records
- Staff personal belongings
Correct answer: The emergency contact and attendance roster
The attendance roster and emergency contact list must accompany staff so accountability can be confirmed and families contacted if needed.
Question 6: What should staff do with classroom lights and doors during a lockdown?
- Leave lights on and doors open to appear normal
- Turn off lights and lock/barricade the classroom door (Correct answer)
- Turn lights off and leave doors unlocked for quick exit
- Dim lights and prop the door open slightly
Correct answer: Turn off lights and lock/barricade the classroom door
During lockdown, lights should be turned off and classroom doors locked or barricaded to prevent an intruder from identifying occupied spaces.
Question 7: A state licensing regulation requires fire drills to be conducted monthly. If a center conducts only 10 drills per year, it is:
- Compliant if the drills cover both fire and lockdown scenarios
- Non-compliant and subject to citation or licensing action (Correct answer)
- Compliant because 10 months is close enough to monthly
- Compliant if the director documents a reason for each missed drill
Correct answer: Non-compliant and subject to citation or licensing action
Failing to meet the mandated monthly drill frequency is a regulatory violation subject to citation regardless of documentation.
CDC Fire Drill & Lockdown Procedures 2
During a fire drill, a child with mobility impairment cannot use the stairs.
What is the correct action for daycare staff?