EXCERPT FROM: The News-Press
By Cristela Guerra
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Training Saturday at Germain Arena gave 125 child care providers valuable advice: You can’t plan for everything but you can be prepared.
The first of a three-part series, the Disaster Preparation Conference was aimed at helping providers develop or refresh their emergency plans, according to Danna Breeden, registered nurse and child care health consultant.
Sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, the conference addressed plans that are meant to safely manage children in a center’s care in case of a natural disaster like a hurricane or the sudden appearance of an intruder.
On Jan. 25, 2008, Robert Dunn entered Bobbie Noonan Child Care Center in Cape Coral and allegedly shot and killed his estranged wife, Christine Lozier-Dunn, in front of her class of young children and their daughter, Allyson, who was 2 at the time.
Robert Dunn was indicted by a Lee County grand jury on a charge of first-degree murder. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty for Dunn, who remains in custody.
The killing caused other day cares throughout Southwest Florida to review and improve security measures. At the conference, attendees were educated on everything from how to handle a drowning to fire safety from experts in each field, including local law enforcement. As each plan is tailored to suit each center’s location and needs, the procedures are practiced as drills in the classroom to keep staff prepared.
“If you have a hurricane that’s not when you open the book about hurricanes,” said Ron Kohl, crime prevention specialist for Lee County Sheriff’s Office. “You want to just react, not think.”