Safety Throughout the Program
It pays in many ways to make safety checks a part of your routine, from the daily sweeps of the program to make sure everything is safety stored away, to the fire drills that keep children and staff alike aware of the steps to take in an emergency.
Fire Safety
- Monthly checks that smoke detectors are in working order
- All exits clear at all times
- Quick-opening locks on windows
- Monthly fire safety drills, and "stop, drop, and roll" drills with all staff and children
Electrical Safety
- Electrical outlets have "2 motion" childproof covers
- Electrical appliances free of loose plugs, fraying cords, or bare wires
- Wires and extension cords do not run under rugs or carpeting or across floor in traffic areas
Kitchen Safety
- Children supervised closely in the kitchen
- Extreme care used if heating baby bottles in microwave: content can be alternately scalding and cool, and should be shaken well and tested before given to baby
- Household cleaners, abrasives, products, and toxins kept in original, clearly marked containers, and kept locked out of children's sight and reach
Bathroom Safety
- Hot water heater set below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding
- Medications and other hazardous items kept in locked cabinets out of children's reach
- Young children supervised in the bathroom; toilets have lid locks if children are three or younger
- Medication and other hazardous material must be locked
- Sturdy non-tip stepstool provided if the toilet or sink is high
Classrooms/Child Care Areas
- Electrical outlets covered with "2-motion" covers
- Radiators covered with secure radiator covers
- Toys have no sharp edges, and are not a choking hazard
- Safety gates (not accordion-style) installed at the top and bottom of stairs
- Houseplants kept out of children's reach
- Curtain cords, Venetian blind cords, etc., fastened up out of children's reach or the ends cut to avoid strangulattion
- Jumpers or swings used instead of walkers
Pet Safety
- Children taught to keep faces away from pets' mouths, beaks, or claws, and to wash hands after handling or playing with pets
- Many reptiles carry salmonella (a dangerous bacteria) and are inappropriate pets for children
Window Safety
- Window guards or stops installed in all rooms where young children spend time
- Windows opened from the top, not the bottom
- Furniture kept away from windows to discourage climbing near windows
Water Safety
- Children never left alone near a wading pool, bathtub, or other body of water
- Children under three never left alone, even near a bucket of water or a toilet
- Adults keep constant eye on children playing in or around water: drowning can occur in less than two minutes
- Wading pools emptied after each use and cleaned with bleach solution
- Five-foot fence with a locking gate encircles pool; gate kept locked at all times
