Safety Practices and Policies

          

        Toddlers present the most risk developmentally for potentially hazardous risks and safety threats. Early Education professionals and teachers can work together to ensure the safety of infants/toddlers while at early education centers or in the home. Reinforcement and supervisions are two key factors in the prevention of hazardous accidents and insuring the safety of infants/toddlers. Reinforcement is an important factor to prevent hazardous accidents as it helps childcare professionals establish a positive pattern of  safe behavior, it also help the educator instill safe practices in the child. Accidents and emergency can occur in a split second so it is vital that infants/toddlers receive constant strict supervision to better prevent hazardous accidents. These two areas will help insure the safety of infant and toddlers because it will help childhood professionals better instill safe practices into their centers.

            One potentially hazardous situation for infants/toddler would be a toddler getting a hold of and putting a household cleaning product in their mouth. This situation could potentially lead to the child getting access to these products leading to a burn or poisoning situation. Safety policies that apply to this situation are they all poisonous products shall be store in a high locked cabinet out of reach of children. Poison control and first aids numbers should be clearly displayed and accessible incase an accident does occur.

            Teachers and families should be work together to educate children about the difference of food and nonfood items and what should and should not be touched or put in their mouths. Childcare professionals should assure that children are closely supervised when using potentially poisonous things such as markers or paint, to insure they do not put these things in their mouths.

            Similar to the actions taken in an early childhood education center, families can take measures of precaution to at home to ensure the child's safety. Household products such as cosmetics, and medication should be stored in high locked cabinets (Robertson, 2013). The number for poison control should also be displayed in an easily accessible area. Parents can also regularly have their child tested for lead poisoning during their annual visits. Children are at greater risk for health problems from lead poisoning, because their small bodies make them more susceptible to absorbing and retaining lead. Since lead poisoning usually has little/no signs or symptoms it is important children undergo routine blood test, since high levels of lead can lead to headaches, stomach problems, behavioral problems, anemia, and affect a child's brain development (Child'sHealth,2015). Teachers and parents should use cleaning products when children are not present, and cleaning products that have dangerous chemical in them should never be used on surfaces that infants/toddlers can reach.

            Secondly a potential hazardous situation could arises if and mop bucket filled with water is left out unattended after cleaning. Standing water should never be left unattended and should be immediately emptied and cleaned after use. As little as 1-2 inches of water can pose a threat to infants/toddlers for drowning accidents. At this age children cannot differentiate between what should and should not be played with so they may see a mop bucket and assume it is no different than there water table they play with outside and attempt to play in it. Mop buckets left unattended pose two threats, one the risk of drowning, and two the risk of poising. Teachers and families should never leave an infant/toddler unattended near any amount of water, and safe practices should be reinforced and practiced anytime they are near water. Families should insure that no body of water is left unattended to become a threat to any infant/toddler, if they have a pool there should be proper fences and locks. Families can also prevent drowning treats by always supervising infants/toddlers while in the bath.

             Another situation that could pose a potential hazardous threat would be a small toy left on the floor of the playroom. A safety policy that applies to this situation is only allowing age appropriate approved toys and not allowing any toys from home to be brought into the center. Measures taken to prevent this situation from occurring is making sure toys are regularly inspected to insure they are not damaged therefore posing a risk. All toys should be inspected to there is no sharp edges or small parts that can break off and pose a threat. All toys for infants and toddlers should be large, smooth, and unbreakable. A choke test should also be used on small toys to determine if they are appropriate for infant/toddler age environment. Families can prevent hazardous injuries related to small toys from occurring at home by only allowing children to play with age appropriate toys. If there is older children in the home making sure their toys are not left out/unattended to prevent an incident.

            Another safety  threat that could arise is a toddler climbing on a piece of playground equipment that is not height appropriate. Safety policies that apply to this situation includes adequate supervision to reduce the risk of accidents, along with making sure the playgrounds developmental design is age appropriate. Measures should be taken to insure that the area below the playground equipment is a shock absorber surface so if a fall does occur serious injury is helped to be prevented. Safe play practice should be enforced and children should be closely watched when climbing on anything. Families can work to ensure infant/toddler safety at home by reinforcing safe behavior, they can make sure that infants/toddler are actively supervised. Families can discourage the climbing on top of furniture and objects at home to reduce the risk of falls.

            A possible safety threat that can occur with infants/toddlers is hot food or liquids spilling on them. Safety policies that apply are water temperatures should be kept to 120 degrees or less. No open flames (ex: candles/matches, lighters) are permitted near children. Another safety policy is that no loose items be placed underneath any hot item that a child could grab. For example a child could try and grab a towel hanging off a counter without realizing there is a hot pot on their causing it to spill on them. All outlets should be covered with safety caps. Preventative actions can also be taken to reduce the risk of burn hazards by placing guards/screens over hot pipes, radiators fireplaces etc. Measures should also be taken to insure no type of hot food or liquid is left unattended or close to an edge that could potentially fall on a child. Families can prevent burn incidents from occurring by making sure all pot handles are turned to the back of stove. Families can also insure safety at home by always testing the temperature of the bath water prior to placing the child in it. Both teachers and parents can work to educate toddlers on the meaning of hot and reinforce what should not be touched.

References:

"Lead Poisoning." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Ed. 

          Shayan   T. Vyas. The Nemours Foundation, 01 Feb. 2015.

Robertson, C. (2013). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education (5th ed.). Belmont, CA:

            Wadsworth/Cengage Learning