Tornado Watch
Issued when weather conditions exist that could produce a tornado. A tornado watch may last for several hours.
Tornado Warning
Issued when a tornado has actually been sighted and is threatening the community. At this time, the Civil Defense warning sirens are sounded, and the emergency messages are broadcast by the media. A tornado warning usually lasts thirty minutes or less.
Three Levels of Code Grey have been identified:A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued in conjunction with a Tornado Watch or Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) designation.
- Be observant for unsafe or worsening conditions, report to Unit Leadership.
- Be on alert for weather alerts or additional notifications.
- Begin identifying patients who would not be able to be evacuated from rooms to zone of safety if threat increased.
- Physicians, Charge Nurses, Nursing Staff and PCAs should work together in identifying these patients.
A Tornado Warning has been issued for a surrounding county
- Be observant for unsafe or worsening conditions, report to Unit Leadership.
- Be on alert for weather alerts or additional notifications.
- Assist in lowering blinds and move unsecured equipment and hazardous chemicals to a safe area.
- Limit unnecessary traffic throughout hospital.
- Place blankets and/or mattress pads at foot of patient beds who would not be able to be evacuated from their rooms to zone of safety during Level 1 alert.
- Assist ambulatory patient in putting on shoes.
A Tornado Warning areas in Eastern Butler County or sighted tornado in West Chester Township.
- Assist ambulatory patient in putting on shoes.
- Move patients and staff to interior unit corridor with in department and close patient room doors once patient is moved.
- Notify visitors or vendors of weather condition that are on unit and guide to safe zone.
- Corridor traffic should be restricted to emergency movement only.
- Move charts, medication carts, emergency carts, etc. to an inside room.
- Lower blinds and move unsecured equipment and hazardous chemicals to a safe area.
- Evacuation magnets should be placed on door frames about 3’ above floor for rooms that have been evacuated.
- Have blanket and/or mattress pads placed over top of them in order to protect from flying debris.
- Move beds as far away from windows as possible without blocking room access.
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Patients unable to be moved due to condition or equipment should: