Safety
Practices and Policies
Carsedra Glass
EDUC 1005: Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition
Professor Eissler
09/03/17
When it comes to
child-care making sure children are safe and out of harm’s way is
important. Whether it’s toys, bathrooms,
chemicals too accessible or even storage rooms not locked there are many ways
kids can be hurt. Here are some steps
that can be taken to ensure the safety of our children. These steps can be applied at home as well as
schools/centers.
Toys
When we think of toys we don't think hazardous to children, yet some can be. Some can rough or sharp edges, peeling paint that can be harmful to ingest. Some toys even come with pieces small enough to become a choking hazard. To prevent injury from any of these items I suggest caregivers and even parents check blocks or wooden toys, even metal for sharp edges, splinters, chipping paint., then replace or repair toys if needed. Also make sure toys with small parts aren't loose or can be easily broken off. If they can replace the toys or secure them so they can't easily be taken off. I would also suggest to even avoid buying toys if possible with small pieces. In accordance with policy number Rule 591-1-1-.12. Equipment and Toys (sections 6, 7, 8)
When we think of toys we don't think hazardous to children, yet some can be. Some can rough or sharp edges, peeling paint that can be harmful to ingest. Some toys even come with pieces small enough to become a choking hazard. To prevent injury from any of these items I suggest caregivers and even parents check blocks or wooden toys, even metal for sharp edges, splinters, chipping paint., then replace or repair toys if needed. Also make sure toys with small parts aren't loose or can be easily broken off. If they can replace the toys or secure them so they can't easily be taken off. I would also suggest to even avoid buying toys if possible with small pieces. In accordance with policy number Rule 591-1-1-.12. Equipment and Toys (sections 6, 7, 8)
Poison Prevention
There are many things that caregivers
and even parents utilize that can be poisonous to childhood, so caregivers and
parents need to knowledgeable of what they are. For instance, there are
plants that can be harmful, so before bringing on to around kids, one should
check with Poison Control Center. Art supplies should be "non-toxic",
all cleaning agents and even medicine should be stored in a locked cabinet away
from children. If possible in room that children don't have access to and away
from food. In accordance with policy number Rule 591-1-1-.25. Physical Plant (section 13)
Storage Closets
Some schools or caregivers have storage closets and parent’s garages or workshops that may have tools and chemicals that are hazards. Those areas need to be secure and inaccessible to children at all times. You can't rely solely on supervision, so installing locks that are kept locked and keys put out of reach of children is crucial. The same for homes parents should keep storage closet locked. In accordance with policy number Rule 591-1-1-.25. Physical Plant (sections 13 & 15)
Some schools or caregivers have storage closets and parent’s garages or workshops that may have tools and chemicals that are hazards. Those areas need to be secure and inaccessible to children at all times. You can't rely solely on supervision, so installing locks that are kept locked and keys put out of reach of children is crucial. The same for homes parents should keep storage closet locked. In accordance with policy number Rule 591-1-1-.25. Physical Plant (sections 13 & 15)
Bathrooms
Some schools and center I have seen
have bathrooms that are fitted with child-sized fixtures, however many
aren't. We know homes usually aren't either, so for the safety of the
children getting stools that are wide, sturdy and have a non-slip base must be
used. Make sure any spills are cleaned up so as to not cause a child to slip
and fall. Going back to poison prevention, make sure no cleaning supplies or
other toxic items are kept in the bathroom. Something that people may not think
about is the temperature of the water, a child's skin can burn easily so don't
let hot water exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit at centers or homes. In accordance
with policy number Rule 591-1-1-.06.
Bathrooms
Entrances and Exits
Entrances and exits at
centers/schools or at home can be a hazard. Steps without rails or even a ramp
with no rails or guard can be an accident waiting to happen. So making sure
that sturdy handrails and guards are installed is a must, if possible rails set
at the height for smaller children at schools. Parents making sure children are
taught to hold onto rails is a plus, so they already know. Making sure
hallways are well lit and clear of clutter in the event there is an
emergency. As for doors that are to remain unlocked put panic bars on
them so access in and out of the building is still easy. For the home, it
may not be wise to have outside doors unlocked to keep a child from wondering
out, but still make sure they can easily be exited in case of an emergency. In
accordance with policy number Rule
591-1-1-.25. Physical Plant (section 7)
Reference:
Http://ljournal.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/d-2016-154.pdf.
(2016). Rules for Child Care Learning Centers Chapter 591-1-1 .
doi:10.18411/d-2016-154
Hello, Carsedra,
ReplyDeleteYour blog looks fantastic and demonstrates the importance of children’s safety, health, and nutrition. Carsedra, in your section Safety Practices and Policies, you discussed the hazards toys can pose such as choking, cuts and splinters. As a child care provider, a good rule of thumb I went by was as I cleaned the toys daily, I would check to see if any of them were broken or could result in a child being injured. This allowed me to monitor when toys needed to be thrown away and replaced. I use to work at a daycare facility that used wooden blocks and I found after much use and cleaning the blocks would often splitter. I recommended to the owner switching to plastic blocks that are easier to clean and would be less of a hazard for the children, which she agreed to do. Carsedra, in that same section of your blog you spoke of keeping entrances and exits free of hazards. When I ran my residential daycare, this was especially essential during the winter months to prevent families and children from falling. According to Robertson (2016), “Falls are common in the early childhood education environment and are the leading cause for unintentional injury for all children; those under the age of five are at the greatest risk for falls” (Robertson, 2016, p.80).
References,
Robertson, C. (2016). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education (6th ed.). [Kindle
Edition]. Boston, MA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.