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CODEWORD SYSTEM
POLICY STATEMENT
The Boys & Girls Club has established an emergency code word system for dealing with emergency situations. Emergency situations can include medical emergencies, suspicious individuals, uncooperative individuals or anything an employee feels is “over his or her head.” If any Boys & Girls Club staff feels that an emergency situation exists, he/she can quickly alert and summon Boys & Girls Club supervisors to the location of the emergency situation by using the code word system.
The Boys & Girls Club code word is “PINK 36”
The use of this code word means that an emergency is occurring in the facility at the location the page designates. i.e., “ Pink 36 in the gymnasium.” Upon hearing this, all Boys & Girls Club supervisory or management staff in or near the location of the area will immediately report to that location to assist and/or provide care. Other staff may be called upon by supervisors to assist with an emergency or to provide care or simply assist with crowd control.
GUIDELINES
- Boys & Girls Club front counter staff monitors all visitors. Visitors and members must follow established check-in/check/out procedures before being admitted.
- Boys & Girls Club Staff is expected to communicate regularly with one another by using the following methods: walkie-talkies, phone paging system, email, messengers, signals, or gestures. To make a page over the loudspeaker at all BGCP clubhouses, dial “#”.
- Unit Directors are responsible for conducting “PINK 36” drills with their assigned staff at least quarterly.
- The supervisor in the best position to handle the emergency situation takes the lead. Others assist appropriately.
- Boys & Girls Club Staff involved or witnessing the emergency situation may be called upon to complete an incident report form. Incident report forms should be completed as soon after the incident as possible in order to capture key information. Incident report forms should be completed individually and submitted to the Unit and Operations Director.
- Boys & Girls Club management staff reviews and evaluates all incident reports, including “CODE WORD” incidents
RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY
“PINK 36”, shall be used to summon immediate supervisory staff support to address the situations below as well as other situations Boys & Girls Club Staff feels supervisors are needed.
Uncooperative or Disruptive Individuals
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- Boys & Girls Club supervisory staff will maintain visual contact and be prepared to report observations to the Unit Director or contact the police.
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- Two(2)Boys & Girls Club supervisory staff should calmly ask a disruptive individual to accompany them to a private area away from others.
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- Boys & Girls Club Staff close by are to clear others from the area if a disruptive individual is unwilling to accompany the supervisory staff to a private area.
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- The supervisor in charge will determine whether the police should be called. In an extreme emergency, and staff may make the decision to contact the police.
Armed and/or Dangerous Individuals
- Boys & Girls Club Staff should never attempt to physically disarm an armed individual. Initiate “ Pink 36” immediately.
- All Boys & Girls Club staff is expected to remove others, then himself or herself from the range of an armed individual.
- Use of force as a response to violent behavior should be the last course of action for all Boys & Girls Club Staff (supervisory and non-supervisory) and should not be attempted except to protect oneself or others from serious bodily harm.
- Boys & Girls Club staff persons who are physically assaulted should protect themselves as necessary.
- If an individual refuses to leave voluntarily, the police should be notified.
- The police, not Boys & Girls Club staff, should remove an extremely disruptive individual(s) away from the premises.
- The supervisor in charge shall direct Boys & Girls Club staff to ensure the safety of all members and visitors until the police arrive.
- If a weapon is confiscated, it is to be turned over to the police.
Medical Emergencies
- 911 is called for all life-threatening situations and a “CODE 36” page is initiated. The person who calls 911 describes the location inside the facility. The lead supervisor appoints a staff person to direct the emergency responders to the injured party.
- First aid is administered to injured individuals appropriately. Call 911 for serious injuries (fractures. dislocations, broken bones, blackouts, etc.). First aid kits are located throughout the facility. Each Unit also has a Main Office fully stocked with basic first aid supplies.
- Under no circumstances is aspirin or any other medication to be given out or administered by Boys & Girls Club Staff.
As soon as possible following the incident, the Boys & Girls Club Staff involved or witnessing the incident must complete an incident report form and submit it to the supervisor in charge.
