Daycare Emergency Drill Documentation
Regular emergency drills ensure staff and children can safely evacuate or shelter in place when real emergencies occur. This checklist documents drill performance for state licensing compliance, identifies areas for improvement, and helps build muscle memory for emergency response across all staff and age groups.
- Industry: Childcare and Education
- Frequency: Monthly (fire) / Quarterly (lockdown/weather)
- Estimated Time: 30-45 minutes per drill
- Role: Center Director / Safety Coordinator
- Total Items: 31
Drill Preparation
Verify drill preparation and readiness.
- Appropriate staff notified of drill date (unannounced drills preferable for fire)?
- Emergency evacuation kit ready at designated location?
- Current child attendance list available for headcount verification?
- Evacuation plan for children with mobility or other special needs in place?
- External stakeholders notified if drill may alarm community (lockdown drill)?
Evacuation Execution
Document evacuation or shelter performance.
- All staff and children responded appropriately to alarm or signal?
- Evacuation completed within required timeframe (typically 2 minutes)?
- All designated evacuation routes used or tested?
- Classroom doors closed during evacuation per fire safety protocol?
- No elevators used during fire evacuation drill?
- Actual time from alarm to full evacuation (minutes)
Headcount and Child Accountability
Verify all children and staff accounted for.
- Headcount conducted immediately upon reaching assembly point?
- All children present at time of drill accounted for at assembly point?
- All staff accounted for at assembly point?
- Headcount matched attendance list with no discrepancies?
- Protocol for missing person known to all staff and practiced?
Staff Performance Observations
Observe and document staff performance during drill.
- Staff demonstrated calm leadership appropriate for child ages?
- Staff effectively managed children's movement and safety?
- Emergency kit and attendance records taken during evacuation?
- No staff or children re-entered building before all-clear?
- Communication between staff during drill effective?
Debrief and Documentation
Document drill outcomes and identify improvements.
- Staff debrief conducted after drill to identify improvement areas?
- Age-appropriate discussion with children about drill conducted after?
- Drill log completed with required information for licensing records?
- Drill schedule on track to meet annual frequency requirements?
- Training improvements identified and scheduled based on drill performance?
Equipment Reset and Post-Drill Check
Verify all systems reset after drill.
- Fire alarm system reset and functional after drill?
- Emergency kit restocked and returned to designated location?
- All evacuation routes confirmed clear after drill?
- Families notified drill was conducted if required by policy?
- Drill documentation filed in licensing compliance records?
Related Childcare Education Checklists
- Daycare Center Annual Licensing Compliance Review
- Daycare Sanitation and Cleaning Log
- Daycare Parent Communication and Engagement Review
- Daycare Classroom Environment Setup Check
- Daycare Substitute Staff Orientation Checklist
- Daycare Incident and Injury Report Checklist
- Daycare Field Trip Safety Checklist
- Preschool Weekly Curriculum Planning Checklist
Related Daycare Centers Checklists
- Daycare Center Daily Opening Inspection - FREE Download
- Daycare Child Sign-In and Sign-Out Procedure Check - FREE Download
- Daycare Staff-to-Child Ratio and Supervision Check - FREE Download
- Daycare Health and Illness Exclusion Check - FREE Download
- Daycare Center Annual Licensing Compliance Review - FREE Download
- Daycare Sanitation and Cleaning Log - FREE Download
- Daycare Parent Communication and Engagement Review - FREE Download
- Daycare Classroom Environment Setup Check - FREE Download
- Daycare Substitute Staff Orientation Checklist - FREE Download
- Daycare Incident and Injury Report Checklist - FREE Download
Why Use This Daycare Emergency Drill Documentation?
This daycare emergency drill documentation helps childcare and education teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for center director / safety coordinator professionals, this checklist covers 31 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: monthly (fire) / quarterly (lockdown/weather).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Daycare Emergency Drill Documentation cover?
This checklist covers 31 inspection items across 6 sections: Drill Preparation, Evacuation Execution, Headcount and Child Accountability, Staff Performance Observations, Debrief and Documentation, Equipment Reset and Post-Drill Check. It is designed for childcare and education operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed monthly (fire) / quarterly (lockdown/weather). Each completion takes approximately 30-45 minutes per drill.
Who should use this Daycare Emergency Drill Documentation?
This checklist is designed for Center Director / Safety Coordinator professionals in the childcare and education industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.