Safety Practices and Policies

Preschoolers are at the age where they want to experience things on their own. This leads to a lot of preventable injuries and even deaths. There are safety steps and precautions that can be performed to avoid or reduce injuries associated with working with children. Not all injuries take place in a learning environment many take place at home or while out with the family. For the age of 4 and 5 injuries like falls, faulty equipment, and poisonings are unfortunate yet common events that take occur with preschoolers.

Motor Vehicles

·         Children under the age of 8 and under must be in a booster or car seat in the rear seat

·         Children over the age of 8 are required to wear a seat belt or any form or restraint

·         Windows are not allowed to be more than half way down except the driver

·         To ensure that safety methods and rules are followed additional staff is required

·         Place needed information such as parental authorization forms, medical information, a list of all students and staff

·         Share information with parents. Ask that they discuss the information with their children and practice wearing their seat belts and other safety precautions

Falls (outdoor)

·         Playgrounds injuries are the leading cause of injury to children in child care and to children ages 5 to 14 in schools

·         For a softer surface rubber or mulch surfaces are recommended

·         Increase supervision to reduce the amount of playground injuries

·         If a playground injury takes place apply ice  to the injured area to reduce swelling or bandage to stop bleeding

·         Call for emergency attention, if needed before contacting parents

·         Ask families to set playground rules and enforce them this will help create and maintain proper outdoor play habits

Equipment

·         All equipment and furniture must be age appropriate

·         Equipment should be easy for the students to use

·         Equipment must be clean and maintained at all times

·         Objects must be checked for sharp edges, rust or chipped paint

·         If identified, necessary repairs must be made immediately after being reported

·         Have families discuss and practice proper safety skills during play

Choking

·         Choking is common during meal and snack times

·         To reduce the chance of choking serve bit size food

·         Serve chewy foods instead if hard foods

·         It is required that all staff members are CPR and Fire Safety certified and certification is up to date

·         Share up to date information with families

Poisons

·         Be mindful of poisons located on the premises and the access children may have

·         Keep out of children’s sight and reach

·         Label all poisons and store in clear containers, preferably child proof

·         Keep Poison Control Center next to every phone

·         If poisoning occurs check for breathing, contact the poison control center immediately

·         Call 911 if the victim shows further symptoms

Preventing injuries can be difficult, but it is possible. There are policies, prevention methods, and families that can help teach, demonstrate, and enforce safety rules. These rules not only apply to outside play, but also to inside play at all times. Let’s keep our children safe.

References

·  Automotive Safety Program. (n.d.). Automotive Safety Program. Retrieved March 12, 2012, from http://preventinjury.org/pdf/PLAYGROUND

Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. (n.d.). The UGA Cooperative Extension Web site has moved.. Retrieved March 12, 2012, from http://extension.caes.uga.edu/gtipi

Georgia Department of Public Health. (n.d.). Georgia Department of Public Health. Retrieved March 12, 2012, from http://health.state.ga.us/

Index of /STATES/GA. (n.d.). National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. Retrieved March 12, 2012, from http://nrckids.org/STATES/GA

Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education (4th ed.). Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.