Safety Tutorial for Child Care Aide

1. Safety Tutorial for Child Care Aide By: Diane Nelson Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education Center

2. Training Tasks for Child Care Aide • Organize and participate in recreational activities with the children. • Provide developmentally appropriate disciplinary measures for the children. • Instruct the children in health and personal habits such as eating, resting, and toilet habits. • Assist in preparing food for the children and serve meals and refreshments to the children.

3. Training Tasks for Child Care Aide • Dress the children and change diapers. • Keep records on individual children, including daily observations and information about activities, meals served and medication administered. • Identify signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and discuss with their parents or guardians. • Observe and monitor children’s play activities.

4. Pre-Test • The younger the children, the lower the staff-to-child ratio? • Spanking a child is allowed with the parent’s permission? • Toys that cannot be washed and sanitized should not be used? • After assisting the child with hand washing, the staff member should wash his or her own hands? • Before a child enters a child care facility, the caregiver should obtain a written history for that child.

5. Appropriate Clothing • Clothing should be casual and comfortable so you are able to freely move around with the children. No tight fitting and revealing clothing allowed. • No big jewelry where the children can pull on it.

6. Safety Equipment • Electrical outlet covers • Safety gates • Cabinet, door, and appliance locks • Edge and corner guards • Baby monitor • Cord wind-ups • First aid kit • Fire extinguisher

7. Tools • Cribs • Soft bedding • Bottles, cups, plates, and utensils • Portable mattresses for nap time • Books and toys • Art and craft supplies

8. Equipment • Playground equipment • Dishwasher • Refrigerator

9. Electrical • All electrical outlets should be covered and mounted higher on the walls. • All electrical cords should out of reach of the children so they cannot play with them.

10. Floors, Doors, Exits • All doors should be locked and everyone enters from the main entrance and buzzed in. • There should be exit signs clearly displayed. • The floors should always be dried to prevent slipping. Everyone must be careful of tripping over toys out on the floor.

11. Chemical Hazards • All toxic substances like cleaning supplies and pest killer should be locked up and out of reach of the children. • The building should be checked for dangerous substances like lead and asbestos. • The poison control information should be posted.

12. Ergonomic Hazards - Lifting • Back injury is a common problem for a child care worker because you are constantly lifting up children. You must be aware of the proper way to lift to protect yourself from injury.

13. Fire • The day care center should have an evacuation plan in case of fire. This plan should be posted in each classroom. • The day care center should practice fire drills regularly. • The center should have fire extinguishers. • The center should have a current fire inspection certificate displayed. • The center should have smoke detectors.

14. Infectious Diseases • Any infectious disease should be reported to the Department of Health and the other parents in the center immediately. • Caregivers and children should wash their hands often, especially before eating and after using the bathroom or changing diapers.

15. Angry/threatening Customers • It is important to provide feedback to the parents regularly regarding their child and address any concerns they have immediately. • Document any problems with a child and any meetings you have with the parents.

16. How and to Whom Do You Report an Injury • An injury incurred by a child care worker or child should be documented and reported to the director immediately. • The child care worker should be trained on how to recognize signs of child abuse and how to report suspected child abuse.

17. Post Test • Crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8” apart? • Pillows could be left in the crib when the baby is sleeping? • Check playground equipment regularly to make sure they are maintained in good condition? • Safety gates are used to keep children away from potentially dangerous areas? • It is permissible to leave a child unsupervised while he or she is sleeping, as long as the sleeping arrangements are safe and in compliance.

18. Post Test • Caregivers should never leave a child alone on a table or countertop, unless an emergency arises? • The facility should notify the parents of any suspected allergic reactions? • The facility should practice fire drills with the children? • If the child fell during the day and did not get hurt you do not need to inform the parent? • If you suspect a behavior problem with the child you should discuss it with the parent?

19. Answers to Pre and Post Test • Pre Test Answers Post Test Answers • 1. T 1. T 6. F • 2. F 2. F 7. T • 3. T 3. T 8. T • 4. T 4. T 9. F • 5. T 5. F 10. T

20. Safety Web Resources • www.nrc.ushsc.edu National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care • www.cpsc.gov U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission • www.acf.hhs.gov U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services – Administration for Children and Families