Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition Blog: Safety Practices and Policies

Safety Practices and Policies

Safety practices and policies are vital in early childhood environments. Preschool children are active and want to explore their environment. Children in this age group do not understand their physical abilities and may engage in activities that could possibly cause them harm. Early childhood professionals are in a position to prevent many accidents by implementing safety practices and policies. Childcare professionals are also able to share information with families to assist them with safeguarding children in the home environment.

Potentially Hazardous Situations/ Safety Threats

A number of potentially hazardous situations or safety threats are possible in the preschool environment or at the child’s home. For example, motor vehicle accidents are a potential hazard for this age group. To ensure the safety of a preschooler who is transported in a motor vehicle, childcare facilities are required to place the child in an age and weight appropriate safety seat (Robertson, 2010). The childcare staff and or parents should also model safety by wearing their own seatbelts and by practicing safe driving procedures. Children are more accepting of sitting in a car seat when they see the adults wearing their seat belts. Additionally, the vehicle used for transportation should be in good running condition. Prior to transporting children, a safety check of the vehicle is conducted.

Preschool children are at a risk to suffer injuries from falls. Many falls occur on playgrounds, either at childcare centers or at parks that families frequent. The National Program for Playground Safety has specific guidelines to certify the safety of playgrounds (Robertson, 2010). The first criteria that parents and childcare professionals should look for is how well the area can be supervised. The entire playground should have clear visibility for adults to see children playing. The next factor is whether or not the playground is developmentally appropriate for preschool children. Look for tricycle paths, sand boxes, structures that are low to the ground, and areas that encourage individual play (Robertson, 2010). Next, look at the material that is under the play structure. The different types of shock absorbers are loose sand, mulch, or pea gravel (Robertson, 2010). Finally, a SAFE playground is well maintained. The equipment should be in good repair without any dangerous breaks or splits. Families and caregivers should be aware of the risks of playground falls and use the SAFE guidelines to determine if a playground is safe to use.

Another potentially dangerous situation for preschool children is the risk of burns. Preschool children face a higher risk of suffering from scalding than other age groups (Robertson, 2010). The best way to prevent this is to place a device on the hot water heater that sets the temperature to a safe level. Additionally, parents can help to ensure the safety of their children by using proper supervision at bath times or in the kitchen.

Accidental poisoning is another safety issue facing families with preschool children. The first prevention method is to examine the products and plants in the home or the childcare center. Be aware of the potential risks from common household items such as medicines, cleaners, car care products, and small electrical appliances (Roberson, 2010). Remove or lock up anything that could harm a child. As with all other potential hazardous risks, adult supervision is the key to prevention.

Guns and violence are a threat to the safety of preschool children. Guns are not allowed in childcare centers but are present in many American homes. To safeguard against children having access to guns, store the guns at a location other than the home. If this is not possible, lock away the guns and the ammunition in separate locations and do not allow the child to know the location of the weapons.

Early childhood professionals and parents of preschool children should be aware of the surroundings and environment that preschool children are in. Look around to see potential hazards and be proactive about prevention of accidents. The best advice is to make sure that the child is adequately supervised at all times.