June is National Safety Month and a good time to review and update your program safety practices as your summer program kicks off.
Emergency Plans:
- Review and update your emergency plan with input from all staff.
- Are there any changes to your program space that might impact exits? Any hazards not addressed by your current plan?
- Check all emergency kit supplies and replace anything expired or missing.
- Make sure emergency plans are posted in every room.
- Review drill procedures with staff and ensure all required safety drills are being completed as required by licensing.
Indoor Safety:
- Are all outlets covered and power cords kept out of reach of children?
- Go through all toys and equipment and discard anything broken, cracked or with sharp edges.
- Review procedures to cleaning and sanitizing toys and equipment with staff.
- Make sure your art supplies are non-toxic.
Outdoor Safety:
- Have you collected sunscreen permission forms collected for every child? Make sure sunscreen is not expired, is broad-spectrum for both UVB and UBA rays and has an SPF of at least 15.
- Review outside safety rules with all staff and children.
- Does every child have a water bottle and access to water?
- Encourage children to wear hats and sunglasses when playing outside.
Playground Inspection:
- Do you have a playground inspection checklist?
- Determine when and how regular playground inspections will be completed.
- Consider having a Certified Playground Safety Inspection completed, especially if you have older playground equipment.
- Do you have copies of your playground equipment installation and warranty paperwork on hand?
Healthy Child Care Colorado offers Certified Playground Safety Inspections. This thorough inspection is completed by an NRPA certified inspector. Upon completion you will receive a full report of hazards identified as well as guidance on how to fix them. In addition, completing the inspection will give you 2 points in Colorado Shines for indicator 5.4. To schedule your inspection please contact us at info@healthychildcareco.org.
By: Becky Edwards, M.A. Ed.