It can be difficult for parents/guardians to leave their children at a daycare center. Whether your organization is in your home or at a facility, it is important to take proper precautions in order to ensure the safety of all of the children and staff involved.
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8 Tips for Daycare Safety:
1. Make sure you have enough supervision available
When you have a large group of kids, it is important to prioritize adequate supervision. Plan ahead for busier days and always have staff on-call in case more assistance is needed. Keep a high adult to child ratio. Young children need to be supervised at all times.
2. Train staff properly
Poorly trained staff will not be able to enforce proper safety precautions. Improve safety and health in your daycare by creating and educating staff on safety policies. Make sure your employees have CPR and First-Aid training, and have an employee make sure that healthy and safety rules are followed. Schedule regular training sessions and make sure an employee with CPR and First-Aid training is always on duty.
3. Make sure medications are given properly
Giving improper doses of medication to children can be very dangerous. Ask parents to either administer medications at home, or write authorization notices and instructions for the daycare. Train staff on proper medication storage and administration. Be aware that some children may have reactions to certain medications.
4. Keep any dangerous substances or medications out of the reach of children
Accidental poisoning is one of the leading causes of injury and death in young children. Store medications and cleaning products in a secure location. Do not store food and cleaning supplies together. Use child-proof locks if items are stored near the kids' area.
5. Avoid unsafe or damaged products and toys
Make sure that play areas are clean and safe, and that toys are intact and approved. Consider keeping an inventory of the toys, so you know if something has gone missing. Also be aware of recent product recalls, in case you need to remove items from the daycare. Play areas should be cleaned and inspected regularly, free of toys that could be choke hazards, and fenced in or secured at all times.
6. Prevent the spread of germs or illnesses
Every daycare should have routine cleaning and disinfecting policies. Make sure that staff and children have proper immunizations and are washing their hands properly. The facility, toys, and areas where food is handled or diapers are changed need to be cleaned regularly and properly.
7. Be prepared for emergencies
Every daycare needs to have emergency plans for all kinds of situations, including health emergencies, natural disasters, violence, and fires. Make sure your staff is trained to handle all emergency situations. Running drills to practice for these events is a great way to be prepared, just in case you need to evacuate the kids or hide them safely. Have fire extinguishers and smoke detectors present at all times. Practice safety measures for letting new people into your facility. Know where your First-Aid kits are located, and make sure these are stocked at all times.
8. Know who you are hiring
Before hiring an employee, do a thorough background check to ensure that the person is safe and has no record of danger. Parents are able to check a daycare's safety record, and will not be interested in a daycare with previous incidences with staff. Keep the kids, your staff, and yourself safe by hiring employees who are qualified and able to maintain your policies.
Carriage Trade Insurance has over 15 years of experience in the Daycare Industry. Our relationships and experience help us
meet the unique needs of all of our clients.
Contact Carriage Trade today to learn more about our Daycare Insurance options.
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