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Preparing for Emergencies

Preparing for Emergencies in Youth Programs:

Program directors operating programs with custodial responsibility for minors must develop a written safety plan that addresses reasonably foreseeable emergencies. The plan should be specific to the program location, program activities, and the age range of participants. 

Cornell’s Emergency Action Guide provides a useful framework for developing emergency plans. However, because the guide is designed primarily for adult students and employees, youth program safety plans must also address the unique needs of minors. At a minimum, safety plans should include:

  • Procedures for assisting and accounting for minors during emergencies, including medical emergencies, evacuations, shelter-in-place events, and weather-related incidents.
  • Appropriate supervision and staffing plans to ensure continuous oversight of minors during emergency situations.
  • Emergency communication procedures, including how program staff will communicate with emergency responders, parents/guardians, and university officials.
  • Evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures that identify meeting locations, accountability processes, and staff responsibilities.
  • Response protocols for medical emergencies, including access to emergency contact information and procedures for obtaining medical assistance.
  • A plan for responding to severe weather and other environmental hazards that may affect program activities.
  • A lost participant response plan.

Emergency Preparedness:

  • To prepare for emergencies, program directors and all authorized persons should:
  • Ensure that they are enrolled to receive CornellALERT emergency notifications.
  • Download the Rave Guardian app.

  • Ensure the appropriate campus security contact information is stored in their phone.

    Campus Emergency Contacts:

    • Ithaca Campus: Cornell Police (607-255-1111)
    • Cornell AgriTech: AgriTech Security (315-787-2215) or local law enforcement
    • Cornell Tech: Campus Safety & Security (646-971-3611)
    • Weill Cornell Medicine-NYC: WCM Security Office (212-746-0911)
    • Off-campus programs should dial 911

Program directors are responsible for ensuring that there is an efficient way to contact parents/guardians of all minor participants in the event of an emergency.

First Aid and CPR/AED Training:

To support the health and safety of participants, CYS recommends that at least some authorized persons associated with each program maintain current certifications in First Aid and CPR/AED.

Training opportunities are available through: 

Programs Permitted by the New York State Department of Health

Programs classified as children's camps and permitted by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) must comply with additional requirements.

NYSDOH-permitted camp programs must:

  • Complete the DoH safety plan template 
  • Follow New York State requirements regarding first aid and CPR/AED training 
  • Employ a designated Health Director

Additional information is available in the NYSDOH publication, Requirements for Children's Camps in New York State. 

Questions regarding NYSDOH requirements should be directed to CYS and/or the local health department.