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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".47" citation="COMAR 10.07.14.47" title_num="10" subtitle_num="07" chapter_num="14" heading="Emergency Preparedness.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The facility shall comply with:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>All applicable local fire and building codes; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code, including Chapter 24 of NFPA 101 if the facility is a one or two family dwelling as defined by NFPA 101.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Fire Extinguishers. An assisted living program shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Ensure that fire extinguishers are:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Located on each floor and adjacent to, or in, special hazard areas, such as:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Furnace rooms;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Boiler rooms;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Kitchens; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Laundries;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Of standard and approved types;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Installed and maintained to be conveniently available for use at all times; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Serviced annually, as evidenced by documentation maintained on-site, by an individual or company licensed by the Maryland State Fire Marshall; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Initially and at least annually instruct staff in the use of fire extinguishers.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Emergency and Disaster Plan.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The assisted living program shall develop an Assisted Living Emergency Preparedness Packet in compliance with the requirements of §C(2)—(11) of this regulation, which shall be readily available to all staff.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The assisted living program shall develop an emergency and disaster plan that includes procedures that shall be followed before, during, and after an emergency or disaster, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Evacuation, transportation, or sheltering in-place of residents;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Notification of families and staff regarding the action that will be taken concerning the safety and well-being of the residents;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Staff coverage, organization, and assignment of responsibilities for ongoing sheltering in-place or evacuation, including identification of staff members available to report to work or remain for extended periods; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The continuity of services, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Operations, planning, financial, and logistical arrangements;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Procuring essential goods, equipment, and services to sustain operations for at least 72 hours;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Relocation to alternate facilities or other locations; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Reasonable efforts to continue care.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The assisted living program shall have a tracking system to locate and identify residents in the event of displacement, an emergency, or a disaster that includes at a minimum the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Resident’s name;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Date and time that the resident was sent to the initial alternative facility or location;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Name of the initial alternative facility or location where the resident was sent; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Contact person and phone number for the facility where the resident was sent.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>When the assisted living program relocates residents, the assisted living program shall send a brief medical fact sheet with each resident that includes at a minimum the resident’s:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Name;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Medical condition or diagnosis;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Medications;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Allergies;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Special diets or dietary restrictions; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Family or legal representative contact information.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The brief medical fact sheet for each resident described in §C(4) of this regulation shall be:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Updated upon the occurrence of change in any of the required information;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Reviewed at least monthly; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Maintained in a central location readily accessible and available to accompany residents in case of an emergency evacuation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>The assisted living program shall review the emergency and disaster plan at least annually and update the plan as necessary.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>The assisted living program shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Identify a facility, facilities, or an alternate location or locations that have agreed to house the licensee’s residents during an emergency evacuation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Document an agreement with each facility or location.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>The assisted living program shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Identify a source or sources of transportation that have agreed to safely transport residents during an emergency evacuation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Document an agreement with each transportation source.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Upon request, an assisted living program shall provide a copy of the facility’s emergency and disaster plan to the local emergency management organization for the purpose of coordinating local emergency planning. The assisted living program shall provide the emergency and disaster plan in a format that is mutually agreeable to the local emergency management organization.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>The assisted living program shall identify an emergency and disaster planning liaison for the facility and shall provide the liaison’s contact information to the local emergency management organization.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>The assisted living program shall prepare an executive summary of its evacuation procedures to provide to a resident, family member, or legal representative upon request. The executive summary shall, at a minimum:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>List means of potential transportation to be used in the event of evacuation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>List potential alternative facilities or locations to be used in the event of evacuation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Describe means of communication with family members and legal representatives;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Describe the role of the resident, family member, or legal representative in the event of an emergency situation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Notify families that the information provided may change depending upon the nature or scope of the emergency or disaster.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Evacuation Plans. The facility shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Conspicuously post individual floor plans with designated evacuation routes on each floor; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Ensure that all staff have access to the entire emergency preparedness plan.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Orientation and Drills.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The assisted living program shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Orient staff to the emergency and disaster plan and to their individual responsibilities within 24 hours of the commencement of job duties; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Document completion of the orientation in the staff member’s personnel file through the signature of the employee.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Fire Drills.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The assisted living program shall conduct fire drills at least quarterly on all shifts.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Documentation and Retention. The assisted living program shall document and maintain on file for a minimum of 2 years the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Completion date and time of each drill;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Names and signatures of staff who participated in the drill;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Fire scenario used in the drill;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Steps taken by staff during the drill;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Successful and non-successful actions taken by staff during the drill; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Opportunities for improvement identified as a result of the drill.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Semiannual Disaster Drill.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The assisted living program shall conduct a semiannual emergency and disaster drill on all shifts during which it practices evacuating residents or sheltering in-place so that each is practiced at least one time a year.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The drills may be conducted via a table-top exercise if the program can demonstrate that moving residents will be harmful to the residents.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The assisted living program shall document and keep on file for a minimum of 2 years the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Completion date and time of each disaster drill or training session;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Names and signature of staff who participated in the drill or training;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Type of disaster utilized for the drill or training;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Type of drill or training undertaken;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Steps taken or discussed by staff during the drill or training;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Successful and non-successful actions taken or discussed by staff during the drill or training; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>Opportunities for improvement as identified as a result of the drill.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The assisted living program shall cooperate with the local emergency management agency in emergency planning, training, and drills and in the event of an actual emergency.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Emergency Electrical Power Generator.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Generator Required. By October 1, 2009, an assisted living program with 50 or more residents shall have an emergency electrical power generator on the premises, unless the program meets the requirements of §F(7) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Generator Specifications. The power source shall be a generating set and prime mover located on the program’s premises with automatic transfer. The emergency generator shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be activated immediately when normal electrical service fails to operate;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Come to full speed and load acceptance within 10 seconds; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Have the capability of 48 hours of operation of the systems listed in §F(5) of this regulation from fuel stored on-site.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Test of Emergency Power System.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The program shall test the emergency power system once each month.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>During testing of the emergency power system, the generator shall be exercised for a minimum of 30 minutes under normal emergency facility connected load.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Results of the test shall be recorded in a permanent log book that is maintained for that purpose.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The assisted living program shall monitor the fuel level of the emergency generator after each test.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The emergency power system shall provide lighting in the following areas of the facility:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Areas of egress and protection as required by the State Fire Prevention Code and Life Safety Code 101 as adopted by the State Fire Prevention Commission;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Nurses’ station;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Medication distribution station or unit dose storage;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>An area for emergency telephone use;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Boiler or mechanical room;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Kitchen;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Emergency generator location and switch gear location;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Elevator, if operable on emergency power;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Areas where life support equipment is used;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>If applicable, common areas or areas of refuge; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(k)">
        <text>If applicable, toilet rooms of common areas or areas of refuge.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Emergency electrical power shall be provided for the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Nurses’ call system;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>At least one telephone in order to make and receive calls;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Fire pump;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Well pump;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Sewerage pump and sump pump;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>If required for evacuation purposes, an elevator;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>If necessary, heating equipment needed to maintain a minimum temperature of 70°F (24°C) in all common areas or areas of refuge;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Life support equipment; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Nonflammable medical gas systems.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Common Areas or Areas of Refuge. If the emergency power system does not provide heat to all resident rooms and toilet rooms, the program shall provide common areas or areas of refuge for all residents. The areas shall meet the following requirements:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The common area or areas of refuge shall maintain a minimum temperature of 70°F (24°C);</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Heated toilet rooms shall be provided adjacent to the common areas or areas of refuge; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The program facility shall provide to the Department a written plan that defines the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Specified common areas or areas of refuge;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Paths of egress from the common areas or areas of refuge; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Provision for light, heat, food service, and washing and toileting of residents.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Applicability of Emergency Power Requirements.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An assisted living program shall be exempt from the requirements of this section if the program can safely transfer residents through an enclosed corridor to a building that is equipped with an electrical power generator that satisfies the requirements of §E of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An assisted living program may request a waiver from the requirements of this section in accordance with the procedures outlined in COMAR 10.07.14.09 on a year-to-year basis. The program shall demonstrate in the waiver request financial hardship that would create an undue financial burden on the facility and will require the facility to cease operation of the assisted living program.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>When the Department grants a waiver to an assisted living program for the requirements of this section, the assisted living program shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Disclose in writing to current and prospective residents that the program does not have an emergency generator; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Develop a plan to follow in the event of a loss of electrical power.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>