Safety Practices and Policies

Brittany Hood
Week 1 Application




For preschoolers everything is an adventure and sometimes they are not sure that they are putting themselves in danger. That is when educators and parents come in to help direct them. I have identified five potential threats/situations. They are Toy safety, poison control, hand washing, electrical sockets, and falls. I feel that the list is endless when it comes to the safety of children, but I believe the five I listed are the start of a long list.

Toy safety- Ensure that all toys are age appropriate for the children in the classroom. Also, replace any toys that are broken and unfit for children to play with. With the program that I work for the Education Specialist along with myself, and the center managers order age appropriate toys for their classrooms. We make sure that the items have large enough pieces to prevent choking hazards. The center mangers also inspect the classrooms to remove any toys that are not age appropriate for the classroom. Parents take orientation before school start to talk about age appropriate toys along with other items. Giving tips to parents on what to look for and to stay away from certain toys with small and many pieces to prevent choking in their homes as well.

Poison Control- Teachers are required to lock up their purse and chemical out of reach of children. Teachers have to lock up anything that can pose a potential danger to children. Teachers also should clearly label all chemical bottles used in the classroom. Place the bottles, purse and other items on the highest shelf in the locked closet. Also, post in all classrooms the number to poison control if an incident arises. Poisoning can happened with any household, medication, and even some non-household items. Families can put all their chemical items in high cabinets, but if they do not have that, they can lock their low-level cabinets to keep their children safe from poison items.

Hand washing- Keeping clean hands will help cut down on the transmission of germs and diseases. Base on the Head Start Performance Standards Child Health & Safety 1304.22 states that hand washing should take place after toilet use, before food preparation, whenever hands are contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids, and before and after treating a wound. Teachers and children should wash their hands using liquid soap, rub their hands for 10 seconds rinse, and turn water off using a paper towel. Also, post hand-washing poster in all classrooms by the sink for children and teachers to see. When this healthy habit forms at the school children inform their parents of washing their hands. Sharing this information and the pros for good hand washing habits and how it cut down on germ passing will help parents enforce it at home.

Electrical Socket Covers- To prevent children from placing objects in the electrical sockets and getting shocked. In all classroom electrical sockets covered when not in use. Teachers should inspect their classroom to make sure there sockets have the proper covers. If sockets are uncovered, the center manager provides covers for those who need them. This is important for parents to know and have in their homes. Children are very curious from toddler stage to preschool about the world around them. Having socket covers to prevent this type of accident is important. Have fire department come in and explain the seriousness to parents and children about the dangers and preventive approaches that parents can use.

Falls- To prevent falls in the classroom setup is important along with proper furniture to prevent these incidents. In a classroom, the setup is very important. When the room is, setup correctly it cuts down on children running, possibly falling, and hurting themselves. Teachers can create rules to ensure the safety of the children. Also, make sure that the furniture is appropriate to the age group, and make sure carpets are secure to floor cut on tripping. Supervising is necessary for teachers to do to keep potential incidents from happening. Explaining to parents how important is to supervise your children at all time. Also, remove items that can be a potential hazard for children to fall.
In this field, being prepared is always the key when working with children. Our job is to provide the best quality and safe environment for them. Although we do not have eyes in the back of our heads, it is important to eliminate all possible threats in a childcare center. Informing parents is also important about threats in their homes. Give tips on how to childproof their homes, numbers to call incase of an emergency, and other tips. Providing this those types of trainings, and reading material can help eliminate threats in the homes as well. The items I listed are just the tip of the iceberg but they are the most important to me when it comes to child safety and well-being.