An Ashmont childcare centre has proven the value of early learning emergency training after a close encounter with an eastern brown snake.
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Staff at PE4K Childcare Ashmont stumbled upon the highly venomous snake during a routine morning inspection on Wednesday, November 1, while children were inside the premises.
Operations director Amy Holman said staff performed admirably to address the situation.
“The staff member who found the snake followed our procedures and enacted a lockdown before contacting our centre manager who then arranged for the snake expert to come out,” she said.
“The children outside were moved inside until the snake was captured and then the day proceeded as usual.”
Though the combination of snakes and children is nerve-wracking, Ms Holman said regular emergency drills and training sessions at the centre prepared staff and students alike for situations just like this one
“We’re required by law to practice emergency drills every quarter but we’ll usually do something once a month,” Ms Holman said.
“All the kids are completely used to lock-downs and are comfortable dealing with fire, snakes and other emergencies.
“It’s all about making emergency response second nature to them and managing both indoor and outdoor risks.”
The aforementioned snake expert, Tony Davies, used the opportunity to warn Wagga residents of the incoming serpent season.
“We’ve been finding snakes everywhere, especially Forest Hill, Estella and around Hilltop,” Mr Davies said.
“Mainly they’re Eastern Browns, you’ll usually find them outside or in long grasses.”
Mr Davies said recent mouse plague concerns would fuel the snake problem.
“All those mice are great food for the snakes, so you’ll find them wherever those mice are.”