Safety Practices and Policies

Safety Practices and Policies

SIDS is the number one hazard in an early childhood center. SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome which is from babies being placed on their bellies to sleep, is a theory as to why babies are dieing but has not been proven yet. Because they are so young and can not support their heads to receive enough air that is needed, they suffocate from the crib sheet and or their faces being face down on the mattress. Because of this deadly factor, a safety policy encourages parents and caregivers to place babies on their backs to sleep and to place no bed sheets or blankets inside with them.

Childcare centers that have a pool on its property can be a very dangerous hazard. Any child at any time may get loose or walk away unnoticed and wander into something that looks like fun “the pool” and within seconds of falling in the child can drown. If a pool is to be on a child care centers property it needs to be fenced in with a padded lock on it to guarantee that no children under any circumstances will be able to enter into that area. Parents can teach their children the importance of water safety. Show them using a bath tub how heavy objects “such as themselves” will sink to the bottom and drown and lighter objects will float however; may become injured as well. Teachers should count their children at all times to ensure nobody has walked away.

Children riding bikes on a concrete area and fall off is a hazard. The child can scrape their hands, arms, and or legs up with possible bleeding. The teachers should help the students and show the children the basic steps to riding a bike. The bike path should be marked with one direction for coming and the other direction for going, with no passing allowed. The parents can provide helmets and or elbow and knee pads for bike time.

Cleaning disinfectant is a very toxin hazard. If left in the reach of a child, the child can pour on him/herself, play in it, or even worse drink it which can result in a very serious emergency. Teachers should never leave cleaning supplies low enough for children to reach; in fact it should be high enough out of reach and eye sight of all children. If a child should drink a cleaning solution, they should immediately call 911/poison control/ and the child’s parents. To prevent this from occurring the teacher can tell the children that this is very bad and it’s only to be touched by a grown up. Parents also should keep things as such out of the reach of young children so they can not gain access to it.

Toys that are very small or that may have very small parts with it should be considered not age appropriate for infant and toddlers and a hazard. If accessed the child can choke and even worse die. To prevent a child from putting a small toy and or object in his/her mouth, toys larger than 2inches in diameter are to be displayed. Parents should not allow their children to play with older siblings toys that may have small parts included.

To ensure that the child is safe while at home with the parents, the child can be limited to one or two rooms in which they may play in. All outlets should be covered with outlet covers to refrain the child from sticking fingers or other objects inside. All medications should be out of reach of the child to prevent taken some pills and causing an overdose. Another precaution would be to know where your child is at all times and what he/she is doing. He/she may be in the “play room” quiet while you think they are watching TV and consequently they found something on the floor which they placed into their mouth, which has now left them unconscience.