Cherie Hearts Group International, one of Singapore’s largest group of childcare centres, carried out an emergency drill known as “Operation Jellyfish” following the flu alert triggered by the outbreak in Hong Kong 2 weeks ago. The mock drill was conducted on 18th March 2008 (Tuesday) whereby two of Cherie Hearts’ centres at Limau Gardens and Charlton Lane were declared “closed due to emergency” for this exercise.

The purpose of “Operation Jellyfish” is to prepare both the centres and parents for such an emergency and at the same time, ascertain whether we are all operationally ready for a crisis incase of a mandatory shut down. As such, the exercise involved parents who volunteered as ‘host families’ which consist of the parents themselves, grandparents and/or domestic helpers. Each host family took up to five children per household (including the host family’s child) and a teacher where lessons and activities were carried out as usual with minimal disruption. Hence, parents who had difficulty taking leave need not worry since host families have agreed to take in their children for the day.

Children reported at the centres between 7am and 9am on the morning of 18th March. When the drill was activated at 10am, the children, led by Cherie Hearts’ teachers and staff, calmly filed out of the school and walked to various nearby host families where their lessons continued. Safety and hygiene remained as top priorities. Each host family was given a medical kit containing sanitizers, face masks and basic first aid medication to conduct the usual checks - temperature checks were carried out three times that day. Adult caregivers also monitored the children for any signs of illness, including flu and hand, foot and mouth disease.

With the support from many parents, the “Operation Jellyfish” emergency drill resulted in a huge success for Cherie Hearts. Not only did the centres and parents forged greater centre-parental involvement and richer relationships but we also confirmed that we were all ready and prepared in case of a mandatory closure (incase of SARs, flu or other outbreak) as we had various “host locations” where children can go the day and few days after, while parents make alternative arrangements.

This exercise was only possible due to the strong parental relationship and involvement that is the essence of the Group. Similar exercises are planned for all the other centres and entities of the Group.

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