NGA PUNA WAI NETBALL CENTRE

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN

Ensuring the safety of all individuals at the facility is our top priority, which is why we have established comprehensive facility evacuation procedures. These procedures outline the necessary steps to be taken in the event of an emergency, such as a fire or other hazardous situation.

Adhering to these procedures is crucial because they are designed to minimise risks, facilitate a swift and organised evacuation, and ultimately protect the well-being and lives of everyone in the facility. By following these procedures, we can effectively mitigate potential dangers, allow emergency responders to perform their duties more efficiently, and ensure a safe environment for all. It is essential that every team member familiarises themselves with these procedures and takes them seriously, as our collective commitment to their implementation greatly enhances our overall safety preparedness.

FIRE

If you discover a fire:

  • Alert other people in the immediate vicinity to the fire.
  • Activate any fire alarms and call ‘111’.
  • If safe to do so, try to put out or contain the fire, or otherwise evacuate the premises in accordance with the facilities emergency evacuation procedures.
  • At no time should you risk personal safety to protect property or others.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION

If an emergency evacuation is required:

  • Follow instructions given to you by emergency services personnel and any designated evacuation staff, such as fire wardens (identifiable Netball Centre staff).
  • Leave the building via the closest designated exit.
  • Proceed to the designated assembly area as shown below.
  • Do not use the lifts during an emergency evacuation
  • If someone is located on the mezzanine floor and is unable to use the stairs to evacuate, the staff must initiate the ‘stay in place procedure’.  Everyone must continue to evacuate the building and emergency services will be notified that someone remains on the mezzanine floor.
  • During an emergency evacuation, you must remain calm and not do any of the following:
    • Run
    • Crowd exits
    • Take your belongings with you
    • Return to the building until it is safe to do so

EARTHQUAKE

If there is an earthquake, follow these actions:

  • Stop, drop and hold onto secure furniture, or place yourself under a table.
  • Remain clear of windows, glass walls, falling objects or unsecured furniture.
  • Following the earthquake do not leave the building until you have been advised by building management/wardens.
  • If the fire alarm has been disarmed or you discover a fire, follow the fire evacuation process, and you will be advised by management/wardens when it is safe for you to return to the facility.
  • Team Managers are responsible for a ‘count of heads’ check in etc.  Your players are your responsibility.  

Team Managers are required to ‘check-in’ with an Evacuation Building Warden (visible by vest and armbands) and advise of any issues of missing people/property etc. 

Team Managers are encouraged to set up their own ‘team management plan/procedure’ such as

  • all going to a pre-arranged meeting space,
  • have set up a buddy system between the players in the group,
  • rules about keeping people informed if going off somewhere etc,
  • everyone having each others cellphone numbers in their phones – NO CALLS, texts only,
  • keep cell-phones charged and money on them at all times.   

What happens if there is an event while playing?

The games would continue unless it was a high magnitude EQ of 5+.    If it was a significant event, of any type obviously games would stop and a decision would then be made on how best to proceed with the Draw and tournament.  This is not something we can forecast unfortunately. Unless there is significant ground damage there is no reason why games would not continue.

Will there be emergency kits on site?

The Physio Clinic and Dr are present onsite for the tournament and they will have sufficient initial first aid needs should these arise, however, Team Managers are responsible for immediate team needs and are reminded that First Aid Kits need to be replenished and updated prior to tournament commencing.

It is respectfully suggested that each team manager should maintain additional levels of water, muesli bars, snack food, 2 or 3 blankets available, and remind players that in their game bags/backpacks they have an additional jersey/sweatshirt/ or something warm in case they are not able to return to their accommodation or home immediately after an event that may disrupt their travel plans.    Additional supplies of food and water and blankets could remain in the team van.  This is the sort of plan that the management team needs to decide on how to implement and notify their players – this may be documented in your school RAM plan to some extent.

What arrangements are made with accommodation providers?

Team managers should speak or have spoken to accommodation providers to familiarise themselves with the approved evacuation process/safe space prior to coming to tournament.

It may be useful to run some evacuation training with your players so they are familiar with the stop-drop-hold EQ safe process, then if, in the unlikely event of a major EQ they know what to do and how to stay safe and with each other. 

Many people will experience symptoms of psychological distress – anxiety etc – this is part of a normal stress response to a traumatic event. Normalising supportive approaches are more helpful than debriefing or re-living the experience – often does more harm than good.  

Ground shaking or vibration during an earthquake, are seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake related injuries or deaths result from collapsing walls, flying glass, falling objects caused by the ground shaking.

In a severe earthquake it is absolutely vital that people respond immediately and know what to do – confusion about what to do can result in people getting seriously injured.