Emergency Action Plan

Who does what at Rainbow DJ Lab in a fire, medical emergency, severe weather, evacuation or shelter, and how children are reunited with families.

Status

This policy was adopted by the Ras Tafari Inc. board on October 17, 2026.

Pending: the site-specific parts of this plan (exit routes, shelter rooms, the outdoor meeting point, the reunification point, and drawn maps) will be set during a site walk with Chicago Park District staff at Rainbow Beach Park (3111 E. 77th St.). That walk has not happened yet. "Emergency action plan finalized after a site walk with park staff, with maps drawn" is item 6 on the launch checklist. No class runs until it is done. Where this page says "to be set at the site walk," that is why.

Roles in every class

There are always at least two screened adults. In an emergency, they split the work like this:

The roles are assigned and said out loud at the start of every class.

The grab-and-go kit

Kept with the class at all times, indoors and out:

• the class roster with each child's emergency contacts and authorized-pickup list (coaches only; see Privacy), on a charged phone and a printed copy in a sealed envelope, in case phones fail;
• each child's rescue medicine and care plan (see Medical and allergy plan and Epinephrine protocol);
• first aid kit;
• a whistle and a charged phone for each adult;
• the site map (after the site walk).

Fire or evacuation

1. Whoever notices fire or smoke, or hears the alarm, calls out "Evacuate."
2. The children lead says the class's exit words ("Leave the gear, line up, follow me") and leads the children out by the nearest safe exit (routes to be set at the site walk). Leave all gear.
3. The incident lead checks the room, restrooms in use, and the cool-down space, then follows. Brings the grab-and-go kit.
4. Little DJs leave with their own grown-up, staying with the group.
5. At the outdoor meeting point (to be set at the site walk), the children lead does a headcount against the roster.
6. The incident lead calls 911 if the alarm is real or anyone is missing, and tells the fire department about any missing child at once.
7. No one goes back in until the fire department or park staff say it is safe.
8. If the building cannot be re-entered, move to reunification (below).

Medical emergency

1. The first aid adult goes to the child. The children lead moves the other children away and keeps them busy and together.
2. Call 911 for anything serious: trouble breathing, unconscious, seizure, severe bleeding, suspected broken bone, head injury with confusion or vomiting, severe allergic reaction, or any time epinephrine is used.
3. Follow the child's care plan. If epinephrine is used, 911 is called every time. See Epinephrine protocol.
4. Possible poisoning: Illinois Poison Center, 1-800-222-1222 (or 911 if the child is unresponsive or struggling to breathe).
5. Someone meets the ambulance at the entrance and leads responders in.
6. The incident lead calls the parent at once.
7. If a child goes to the hospital and the parent is not there, a screened adult may follow the ambulance only if the other children still have two screened adults; otherwise the class is closed and families are called to pick up early. Staff never drive a child to the hospital.
8. Written incident report within 24 hours. See Incident reporting.

Severe weather

Summer classes are outdoors on the park lawn, beside the lake, so weather is watched closely. Full details: Lakefront weather.

The incident lead checks the National Weather Service forecast before every outdoor class and watches conditions during it.

Shelter in place

Used when it is safer to stay inside (for example, a hazard outside or police activity nearby that is not a threat to the building):

1. Bring all children inside, take a headcount.
2. Close doors and windows. Stay away from windows.
3. Keep the children calm and occupied.
4. Follow park staff and emergency responders.

For a threat of violence, see Active threat and lockdown.

Reunification

When children cannot be picked up in the usual way (after an evacuation, shelter, or emergency):

1. The children lead keeps the group together at the reunification point (to be set at the site walk) and takes a headcount.
2. The incident lead calls or texts every family with what happened, that children are safe (or not), and where to come.
3. Parents and authorized adults check in with the incident lead, away from the children's group.
4. Each child is released only to an authorized adult with photo ID checked, exactly as at normal pickup (see ID check protocol), and the release is recorded in the sign-out tool or on the printed roster if phones are down.
5. A child is never sent to find their family on their own.
6. Two screened adults stay until the last child is released.

Drills

Drills are calm and short. We tell children what we are practicing and why, and tell families in advance. Each drill is logged with the date and how long it took, and anything that went wrong is fixed.

What you'll be told

• Before the first class: the site map with exits, shelter rooms, and the meeting and reunification points, once the site walk is done.
• Before each season: when drills will happen.
• During an emergency: a call or text as soon as the children are safe, with where to pick up.
• Afterward: a written report within 24 hours. See Incident reporting.

Sources

• National Weather Service, lightning safety ("When thunder roars, go indoors"): https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning
• National Weather Service, heat safety: https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat
• Ready.gov, tornadoes: https://www.ready.gov/tornadoes
• Illinois Poison Center: https://www.illinoispoisoncenter.org/