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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? .
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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.
