Environmental Safety and Injury Prevention

Injuries

• Injuries are the leading threat to the health and lives of American children.

• Injuries are understandable, predictable and preventable.

• Injury prevention is an essential part of quality child care.

How are Children Injured?

What are they?

Falls

SIDS

Poisoning

Drowning

Burns

Choking

Suffocation

How are children injured?

• Involvement with another child

• Colliding with objects

• Contact with objects

• Motor vehicle accidents

• Bicycle accidents

CPSC Study of Safety Hazards

• Looked at 220 centers nation-wide:

• 5% had recalled products

• 8% had unsafe cribs

• 13% did not use child safety

gates

• 26% had loops on the window blind cords

• 38% had children wearing clothing with drawstrings at the neck

• 19% had cribs with soft bedding

• 24% had unsafe playgrounds

Who gets injured?

• Most frequent among 2 to 5 year olds.

• More boys than girls after age five.

When do injuries happen?

• In the late summer and spring

• Late in the morning and late in the afternoon

Why are children injured?

• Lack of safety knowledge

• Lack of ability

• Hazards in the environment

• Inattention to using safety devices

• Lack of precautions and supervision

What is happening in your centers?

• What kinds of injuries do you see?

• What kind of safety precautions do you have in place?

Strategies for Injury Prevention

• Conducting regular safety checks

• Modifying the environment

• Supervising children• Educating staff,

parents, children

• Parents are primary teachers and role models.

• Health and safety is what parents look for.

• Include parents in your health and safety efforts.

Why Develop Policies?

• To promote and protect the health and safety of children and staff.

• To help ensure consistent practices.• To encourage open communication.• To help keep program in compliance with

state laws and regulations.• To help families and staff understand child

care as a business.

Tips to Remember

• Policies need to be feasible for the center.

• The center should have the necessary resources to enforce the policies they develop.

• Liability can increase if policies are not followed, or if they are “bad” policies.