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FAMILY CHILD CARE TRAINING PROGRAM
LEVEL ONE - UNIT TWO
SAFETY
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FAMILY CHILD CARE TRAINING PROGRAM
LEVEL ONE - UNIT TWO
SAFETY
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Recognizing children’s vulnerability and the need for commitment to safe
child care practice.
2. Assessing environments for child-safety.
3. Maintaining safe environments for children.
4. Identifying how children can be helped to develop safety awareness.
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CHATTER BOX "Having had three children of my own before I started providing home child care, I felt confident that our home was a safe environment. I had no idea how different children are, and how much trouble one two year old can get into in a room that another wouldn’t find any potential hazards in. The climbers, the explorers, the budding scientists, you have to be ready for them all. I now have a motto when it comes to safety, "If it looks safe, check again!" |
THE BASICS
One of your most important responsibilities as a caregiver
is ensuring the safety of the children in your care. The environment
in which you care for the children must be made safe, and you must make regular
checks to ensure that it remains safe. The main environment which you must
address is your home, but your responsibilities also extend to your backyard
and other areas around your house. In fact, anywhere you take the children,
including the nearby playground, sandbox, wading pool and in your car needs
to be safe for children.
Safety is not simply about cushioning the sharp corners of your coffee table
or covering the electrical outlets, it is also about establishing simple rules
that the children understand and can follow whenever and wherever they are
in your care.
Children in safe environments still require your constant attention - close
supervision is the number one safety rule. When your home
- and the other indoor and outdoor spaces where you take the children - are
safe places, your work as a caregiver will be made so much more enjoyable.
The Safety Scan
It is extremely important that you thoroughly safety-proof
your home and back yard and select safe playgrounds and other places to visit.
It is also important that you take the time to do a quick safety scan of the
house, the backyard, playground or other facility before the children enter.
Perhaps matches were left on the kitchen counter last night, or perhaps racoons
overturned the garbage can at the nearby park. Train yourself to run your
eye quickly over a room or area to spot potential hazards. Satisfy yourself
that everything is as safe as it can be for the children - you’ll be glad you
did.
In addition to your early morning safety scans and your "eagle eye" in all the
surroundings in which you provide care, plan regular safety checks of
your day care home - at least every three months. As children move to different
stages of development, their safety needs change. Take care of any
items that need repair, replacement or your attention in some other way.
Safety in Your Home
The home is the place where many injuries occur. Most
of those injuries are preventable. Before you begin providing care, safety
proof your home, and conduct a thorough safety check at least every three months
thereafter, and a safety scan every morning before the children arrive.
Always view the environment from a child’s eye level. Get down to their
eye level to do a final check on the environment.
Make a general assessment of your home in terms of its suitability
for providing care. Is everything clean, sturdy and in good repair? Are
furnishings (in area’s children will use) placed in ways that are practical
for you, the children and their activities? Is your entrance/front porch
safe?
It’s a good idea to develop your own safety check list based on your environment.
Go through each room or area (e.g. yard, basement) and develop your safety check
list of items specific to that room/area. Below you’ll find some suggestions
to get you started. NOTE: If you are a licensed caregiver
or working with a family child care agency, the system may have additional safety
requirements. Check with your licensing office and/or agency regarding
safety regulations.
Home Safety Check List
- Emergency phone lists are posted beside every telephone in the home, and in
the travel bag for outings. Include telephone numbers for:
day care parents and alternate emergency contact for the parents
fire department
hospital/nursing station
police department
poison control centre
doctor/pediatrician
ambulance
taxi
home child care agency or licensing body, if applicable
neighbour or back-up caregiver.
- Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of the home in
appropriate locations, tested regularly. NOTE: Some provincial/territorial
regulations require that smoke detectors be hard-wired (operate by electricity
rather than battery).
- Fire extinguishers checked regularly to ensure they are fully charged.
- Fire places, wood-burning stoves and space heaters are properly screened.
- Electrical outlets are covered with safety plugs when not in use.
- Electrical cords and plugs are in good condition, and placed neatly away from
children’s reach.
- Safety gates are properly installed on all stairways.
- Flashlights, batteries and a transistor radio are nearby in case of a power
outage.
- Televisions, stereo components and other audio-visual equipment are placed
against walls to prevent children from handling the wiring.
- Power circuits are not overloaded by plugging too many items into the same
circuit;
- Circuit breaker box is easily accessible and well marked.
- All hazardous materials (cleaning products, insecticides, medications, etc.)
are stored securely from children’s reach, preferably under lock and key.
- Plastic grocery and garbage bags are stored out of reach.
- Pot handles are turned toward the centre of the stove when cooking.
Back burners are used as much as possible.
- Scissors, knives and other sharp objects are kept out of the reach of children.
- Hot water temperature does not exceed 48 degrees Celsius.
- Freezers are locked.
- Breakable or dangerous decorative items (glass knick knacks, etc.) are out
of reach.
- Cigarettes, matches and lighters are stored securely out of children’s reach.
- Safety pins, needles, beads, buttons, coins and other small objects are stored
out of children’s reach.
- All equipment, including, cribs, playpens, highchairs, infant seats, bottles,
pacifiers and safety gates, meet current safety standards.
- Perfumes, aftershaves, cosmetics, personal hygiene products and alcohol are
out of children’s reach.
- Stairways are uncluttered and well-lit.
- Drapery and window blind cords are taped/secured out of children’s reach.
- No peeling paint or splinters on furnishings or woodwork.
- Lead-free paint on all surfaces and furnishings.
- Children’s toys are in good repair (no sharp edges, loose parts or parts small
enough for a young child to swallow).
- Decorative decals are fixed on glass doors so children don’t bump into or
attempt to walk through them.
- Sharp edges of furniture are covered with padding.
- High latches on all doors that children should not use.
- Furnace and hot water tank are inaccessible to children.
- Plastic bags are not used underneath sheets to waterproof children’s beds.
(Use fitted plastic sheets or mattress pads).
- Indoor garbage cans have secure lids.
- Diaper pails have secure lids.
- Safety straps are used on changing tables and high chairs.
NOTEWORTHY
Involve the older children and other adults in your home in keeping the environment
safe for children. Emphasize the importance of using the safety gates
on stairs, latches on doors and cupboards and making sure toiletries, scissors
and other items are kept out of young children’s reach.
| ACTIVITY Think about an experience you’ve had in your home where you or a child suffered a minor injury in the past week (e.g. scraped knees or a bump on the head). Now consider whether there were precautions that might have been taken to avoid the injury. What precautions might you have taken? |
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CHATTER BOX "We have a small park right in our housing development that is a great spot for outdoor play. But we had serious problems with teens hanging out in the park at night. The place was always full of broken glass and other trash and the equipment was falling apart. We complained to the City (they own the development) but they wouldn’t, or couldn’t, help much. Finally, several of us, mostly parents of young children, got together and started up our own little Pretty up the Park campaign. We did a major clean-up of the grounds and the City did help out with repairing or replacing the equipment. Now we take turns doing a quick pick-up every morning (I’m ‘on’ every third weekend and I’m out there with my trash bag and my rubber gloves). We also get together for a major clean and fix-up at the beginning of each season. We’ve even planted some flowers and added some benches that one of the tenants built. Not only do we have a nice play space for the kids and the adults, but we’ve also gotten to know each other and I think everyone cares more about the place now - even the teenagers aren’t leaving as much of a mess anymore." |
Outdoor Safety
Whether you are in your own backyard, at a public park, or
taking a walk in your neighbourhood, the children’s safety is still your
responsibility. Be alert to potential hazards, and act preventatively:
Check area for and remove any broken glass, nails, cans, bottles or sharp
sticks. Be careful - carry a heavy-duty plastic bag in your pocket when
at the park or on a walk with the children to dispose of items and use the bag
to protect your hand in picking up items! If you discover used syringes,
contact the local health authorities.
Check the area for poisonous plants.
Check outdoor play equipment for loose screws or sharp edges.
Ensure that swing sets, slides and climbing equipment are properly anchored.
Ensure that scarves, hoods and especially strings are securely tucked
in when children play on slides, swings or climbing equipment (Consider removing,
or asking parents to remove draw strings from children’s clothing altogether).
Cover your sandbox when it is not in use.
Never leave a child unattended in a wading pool, not even for a moment.
Always drain children’s backyard wading pools when not in use, and store
up-ended so they don’t fill with rainwater.
Treat ornamental/garden ponds as you would a pool and take all necessary
precautions. Small children can drown in very small amounts of water.
Full-sized swimming pools - above ground or built in - are an extreme
hazard. Ensure that your pool is properly fenced as per municipal bylaws
and kept safely locked. Covered pools pose hazards as well - children
may assume they can walk on the cover - so make sure the pool area is always
locked. NOTE: Provincial/territorial regulations may prohibit pools in/on home
child care premises.
Attach bicycle flags to tricycles and bicycles for better visibility and
ensure the children wear CSA approved bicycle helmets.
Check fencing regularly for hazards (e.g. barbs, nails, splinters) and
repair them.
Place gate locks on the outside of gates so children can’t reach them.
Never leave young children unsupervised out of doors, even in a fenced
yard.
Never allow children to play in or near parked cars.
Use garbage cans with secure lids and store out of reach of children.
Do not use a power mower or other power tools when children are present.
Remove doors from unused fridges and freezers.
Remove any bee hives, wasp nests or ant hills from your yard.
Keep children away from woodpiles.
If you have a septic tank that shows any seepage, have it serviced immediately.
If you live in an area with drainage ditches, do not allow children to
play near them - drowning and disease are serious concerns.
Teach children never to approach strange animals.
Ensure that children know and follow the rules for playground safety that
you have established, which should include:
Never stand or kneel on swings
Do not walk too close to swings when they are in use
Only get off the teeter totter when the other person is ready for you to do
so
Go up and come down slides properly and safely - make sure the child before
you is well away from the slide before you take your turn
Car Safety
Developing good car safety habits will go a long way towards
making outings a pleasant experience. If you help children develop good
car safety habits when they are very young, as they grow older they won’t
question the necessity of wearing a seat belt or the other rules associated
with car travel. Before heading for the car, remind the children of the
behaviour you expect from them. If the ride will be a long one, perhaps
each child could bring along a caregiver-approved, quiet item (cuddly toy/game)
to help occupy their time.
Some guidelines for car safety:
Use proper seat restraints for everyone in your car - including the driver!
Car seats must be CSA approved and properly installed and tethered in your vehicle.
Teach and enforce car safety rules:
Seat belts must be worn at all times.
Do not throw anything while in the car.
Keep arms and heads inside car windows.
No shouting or other loud or sudden noises.
Do not touch door, door locks or window handles.
Never allow children to play in a parked car, or pretend to steer, even
if you are with them.
Never leave children unattended in a car - even for a moment.
Develop a routine for entering and leaving the car. For example,
have children line up with one hand touching the car until everyone is inside
and buckled up, or out of the car and ready to go.
Always exit the vehicle first, then help the children out. Children
should always exit the vehicle on the curb side.
Watch out for tiny fingers when closing car doors.
The back seat is always the safest place in the car for children.
Carry a flashlight, extra set of keys, first aid kit and emergency contact
information in your vehicle.
If someone misbehaves don’t try to handle the problem while driving.
As soon as it is safe to do so, pull over and stop the vehicle, then address
the problem.
Farm Safety
As a setting for home child care, a farm provides mixed blessings.
On the positive side, children will have daily opportunities to enjoy sights,
sounds and experiences that people living in urban areas can only offer to their
children on rare occasions. On the negative side, there are many inherent
dangers in a farm setting. Caregivers working in this environment will
have to be especially conscientious and alert to hazards.
Assume Nothing
Even an older child who has been raised on a farm may not "know better" and
could put himself or others in danger
Declare Work Areas Off Limits
The best way to ensure children stay out of work areas is to securely fence
an area around your home to provide safe outdoor play space
Be particularly conscious of the following hazards:
Barbed wire fencing
Farm machinery
Make all farm machinery off limits. Never allow children - even as a "special
treat" - to ride on tractors or other farm machinery.
Hazardous materials
Pesticides and toxic chemicals should be stored in their original containers
and kept in a locked cabinet or shed. When empty, rinse containers
thoroughly and dispose of immediately.
Livestock
Even the most gentle animal is potentially dangerous to a small child.
Never allow children near animals without your immediate and constant
supervision.
Farm structures - Ensure that the following are secured and OFF LIMITS
to children:
silos that may contain deadly gases and unloading equipment
grain bins (grain can act like quicksand, smothering a child)
farm ponds and open liquid manure storage facilities
stationery machinery such as feed mills
electrical boxes
barn lofts and other elevated areas (to prevent falls)
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ACTIVITY On your own, with a partner, or in a small group, do a safety scan of the room you are in right now and make a list of potential hazards to young children. |
Helping Children Develop Safety Awareness
Just as you develop the "habit" of safety as a caregiver, it is important that
the children in your care are encouraged to develop good safety habits as well.
One of the best ways to do this is to introduce the discussion in a relaxed
manner when you’re in a variety of locations: in your home, at the park, walking
on the sidewalk and so forth. Ask questions like, "What might happen if
the monkey bars at the park were wet from the rain?" "What would you do
if you saw a needle on the ground when we were out for a walk?" "What
might happen/would you do if you saw that the safety gate across the stairs
was not latched properly?" Listen to their responses. If the children
are struggling to come up with a response, offer suggestions. Don’t
laugh, even if their suggestions are silly, instead offer safer alternatives
and explain why the methods they propose might not be the safest solution.
If you are encouraging children to think about the safety of their environments
and verbally try out different ways to respond, you are also encouraging a sense
of responsibility in the children for their own safety.
Children do learn about safety from the adults around them. When establishing
and enforcing the safety rules of your home child care, take the time to explain
to the children the reasons behind the safety precautions. The "veterans"
will help enforce your house rules with the younger children and new arrivals
to your home day care. And, of course, model safe behaviour yourself.
Give children plenty of safe places to play, so that you don’t have to constantly
say "no." Avoid playgrounds or other places that you feel are unsafe for
the children - you’ll end up exhausted and the children will be frustrated.
Safe spaces and places provide opportunities for the children to feel free to
play, create and explore, and for you to feel reassured of their safety.
Remember that no space, no matter how thoroughly child-proofed, is a safe space
if it lacks your supervision. Your constant attention and awareness is
always the children’s best safety net.
EVALUATION
OPTIONS:
1) ASSIGNMENT
2) QUIZ
ASSIGNMENT
Develop your own safety check list. Go through your space, including each room of your home and outdoor areas, and develop a safety check list tailor-made to your home. Be sure to include your front and backyard, garage, shed, carport and basement space. Make copies of your personalized check list to keep in your file for your routine safety checks. Also note changes you’d like to make so that your home will be a safer place for your own family and your child care family (e.g. replacing/repairing loose tile, installing a light fixture in a stair-well or a padlock on a shed).
QUIZ
1. In addition to the day care parents, what are at least four other emergency phone numbers you should have on hand at all times?
2. Describe four potential hazards to children found in the kitchen and describe how you would protect children from those hazards.
3. List at least five products found in most households that should be kept out of children’s reach.
4. Why are balconies potentially dangerous for young children and what precautions should you take to protect children from those dangers?
5. What precautions should you take if firearms are kept in your home?
6. List at least three things you should teach children regarding fire safety.
7. What are at least five potential hazards you might find in a public park or playground?
8. List at least three rules that children should follow when using playground equipment.
9. List at least three rules that children should follow when travelling in an automobile.
10. Marco and Leslie, both seven year olds, enjoy playing board games and building with construction sets that involve very small pieces. With other, very young children in care, Mary is concerned about the potential danger of a young child choking. What steps would you suggest?
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