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- For
Providers > Safety
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- 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 clear, 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
- Sturdy non-tip stepstool provided if the toilet or sink is high
Classrooms/Child
Care Areas
- Electrical outlets covered with clear, childproof plastic 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; plants are not poisonous
- Curtain cords, Venetian blind cords, etc., fastened up out of children's
reach
- 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
- Five-foot fence with a locking gate encircles pool; gate kept locked at
all times
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