Safety List (Part I of 4)

When you go through a big book of rules, trying to stay on the straight and narrow can be confusing.  If you check your regulations once a year like a lot of providers I know, you let things go a little because it's just easy to forget.  Our childcare takes care of 12 children and 4 more children for 3 hours a day (preschool).  I have three amazing but young and maybe a little forgetful women working for me.  I have taken our regulations (Montana) and divided it into four lists.  We do one list each week and more than one teacher over sees it.  That way, we don't tend to let things slide just a little.  I am giving the first list here, and will give each of our other safety lists on the next 3 Fridays.  Be sure to come back!!

Health and Safety Week One

1.  Emergency telephone numbers are posted for emergency services (for example, 911, poison control, fire department, police and children's protective services).
2.  Emergency procedures are posted for fire and earthquakes, and other regional natural disasters (tornadoes, floods, hurricanes) in each classroom.
3.  Emergency bag is stocked with 48 hour supply of food and water for each child and staff member.
4.  An evacuation map is posted in each classroom.
5.  Proper handwashing procedures are postd at all handwashing sinks, including food preparation and art sinks.
6.  Children's handwashing sinks are at child's level or accessible by a safety step.
7.  Staff wash their hands with liquid or foam soap and running water after each toileting/diapering of children.
8.  Staff wash their hands with liquid or foam soap and running water before food preparation and/or service.
9.  No perishables, including food brought in by children (for example, meat, fish, poultry, milk, bottles of formula/breast milk, eggs) are left out of the refrigerator for more than one hour.
10.  Food preparation areas are separate for the eating and play areas.
11.  Food preparation and eating areas, including counters, tabletops and floors are cleaned/swept before and after food preparation and meals.
12.  Food preparation areas are separate from the toilet, bathroom and diaper- changing areas.
13.  Indoor climbing equipment is over approved mats that extend at least 6 feet from the structure.
14.  Indoor climbing equipment is a maximum height (for example, 3 feet for 3 year olds, 4 feet for 4 year olds, 5 feet for 5 year olds).
15.  Toys and objexts have diameters equal to or greater than 1 1/4 inches and lengths equal to or greater than 2 1/4 inches.
16.  A complete and accurate diaper-changing protocol is posted in diaper-changing area(s).
17.  iaper area is sanitized after each diaper change.
18.  Bottles with Formula in the refrigerator are labeled with the individual child's name and dated with two days of the observation visit.
19.  Breast milk in the refrigerator is labeled with the individual child's name and dated within two days of the observation visit.
20.  Breast milk in the freezer is labeled with the individual child's name and dated within three months of the person checking this list.