(1) The assisted living facility must:
(a) Maintain the premises free of hazards;
(b) Maintain any vehicles used for transporting residents in a safe condition;
(c) Provide, and tell staff persons of a means of emergency access to resident-occupied bedrooms, toilet rooms, bathing rooms, and other rooms;
(d) Provide emergency lighting or flashlights in all areas accessible to residents of the assisted living facility;
(e) Make sure first-aid supplies are:
(i) Readily available and not locked;
(ii) Clearly marked;
(iii) Able to be moved to the location where needed; and
(iv) Stored in containers that protect them from damage, deterioration, or contamination.
(f) Make sure first-aid supplies are appropriate for:
(i) The size of the assisted living facility;
(ii) The services provided;
(iii) The residents served; and
(iv) The response time of emergency medical services.
(2) The assisted living facility must develop and maintain a written emergency preparedness plan that describes measures to take in the event of emergencies or disasters, including, but not limited to:
(a) Fires;
(b) Earthquakes;
(c) Floods;
(d) Infectious disease outbreaks;
(e) Loss of power or water; and
(f) Other events that may require sheltering in place, evacuations, or other emergency measures to protect the health and safety of residents.
(3) The assisted living facility's emergency preparedness plan must include procedures for:
(a) Staff roles and responsibilities;
(b) Identifying and locating residents;
(c) Summoning emergency assistance and coordinating with first responders;
(d) Communicating emergency information to staff and residents as well as external partners, including emergency contacts for residents, state and local agencies, developmental disability ombuds, and long-term care ombuds;
(e) How resident care and treatment needs will be maintained;
(f) Provision of essential resident needs and supplies, including water, food, medications, and personal care items; and
(g) Alternative resident accommodations.
(4) The assisted living facility must incorporate infection prevention and control capability into its emergency preparedness plan. At minimum, the plan must:
(a) Include procedures for the procurement, inventory, tracking, safe storage, and rotation of personal protective equipment to ensure supplies remain within manufacturer recommended shelf life and are available for use; and
(b) Describe how the facility will ensure adequate staffing and implement isolation or cohorting procedures during an infectious disease emergency.
(5) In addition to the plan requirements, the assisted living facility must:
(a) Maintain an adequate supply of personal protective equipment appropriate to the facility size and resident population, including, but not limited to: gloves, gowns, surgical masks, eye protection, and NIOSH–approved respirators;
(b) Train all employees in the comprehensive emergency preparedness plan and staff procedures upon hire and reviewed annually thereafter;
(c) Review the comprehensive emergency preparedness plan and procedures and update at least annually;
(d) Communicate the location of the emergency preparedness plan to residents and staff to ensure access as needed during emergencies; and
(e) Comply with WAC 388-78A-3140.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090, 18.51.070, 70.97.230, chapters 70.129, 74.42, and 74.39 RCW. WSR 26-02-045, s 388-78A-2700, filed 1/2/26, effective 2/2/26. Statutory Authority: Chapters 18.20 and 74.39A RCW. WSR 20-02-104, § 388-78A-2700, filed 12/31/19, effective 1/31/20. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2700, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090. WSR 06-01-047, § 388-78A-2700, filed 12/15/05, effective 1/15/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 04-16-065, § 388-78A-2700, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]