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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Equipment Playground equipment Dishwasher Refrigerator

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Post Test 1. Crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8” apart? 2. Pillows could be left in the crib when the baby is sleeping? 3. Check playground equipment regularly to make sure they are maintained in good condition? 4. Safety gates are used to keep children away from potentially dangerous areas? 5. 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.

Post Test 6. Caregivers should never leave a child alone on a table or countertop, unless an emergency arises? 7. The facility should notify the parents of any suspected allergic reactions? 8. The facility should practice fire drills with the children? 9. If the child fell during the day and did not get hurt you do not need to inform the parent? 10. If you suspect a behavior problem with the child you should discuss it with the parent?

Answers to Pre and Post Test Pre Test Answers Post Test Answers 1. T 1. T6. F 2. F 2. F7. T 3. T 3. T8. T 4. T 4. T9. F 5. T 5. F 10. T

Safety Web Resources National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services – Administration for Children and Families