- The center has working fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. (Inspection or expiration date posted on the tag attached to the fire extinguisher)
- Electrical outlets accessible to children are covered. (All electrical outlets accessible to children shall have safety covers. Some newly installed electrical outlets are protected by child resistant ground-fault circuit- interrupt (GFCI) shock protection devices or safety receptacles)
- Electrical cords shall be of good condition and are placed beyond children’s reach. (Frayed cords or cords with loose connections shall not be used. Injuries may occur when children pull appliances down on themselves by pulling on the cord or when children chew on the cord.)
- Cleaning products, poisons and other dangerous items are stored in the original labeled containers inaccessible to children. (Chemicals shall be used in a manner that will not contaminate play surfaces, food, or food preparation areas. When not in use, chemicals shall be kept in a room or cabinet inaccessible to children, separated from stored medications and food.)
- A well-supplied first aid kit is available to staff and out of reach of children.
- The emergency exists are clearly identified and escape route clearly marked.
- Doorways and exits are free of debris and equipment to allow unobstructed passage.
- Sharp furniture edges are cushioned.
- Medications are kept in original container, properly labeled, stored away from food, refrigerated if needed and are inaccessible to children.
- Strings and cords long enough to encircle a child’s neck are not accessible to children.
- Caregivers shall directly supervise infants, toddlers and preschool children by sight and hearing at all times.
Health and Safety
Health and Safety Facility Checklist for Child Care Centers
- The playground equipment is in good repair and safe condition (no sharp edges, splinters, cracks protruding parts etc.) (Playground equipment shall be inspected for safety at regular intervals and the observations documented)
- Outdoor areas are kept free from excessive dust, weeds, brush, high grass and standing water. (Dust, weeds, brush, high grass are potential allergens. Standing water breeds insects)
- Surfaces underneath indoor and outdoor play equipment that children can climb are covered with impact-absorbing materials
- A play structure shall have no opening with a dimension between 3.5 and 9 inches to guard against entrapment.
- All play equipment shall have a minimum of 6’ clearance from other structure. The front and the rear of swing have the fall zone of twice the height of the swing.
- The outdoor play areas are arranged so all areas are visible to the staff at all times. (This arrangement promotes the prevention of injury and abuse)
- Staff seem to enjoy being with children.
- Staff respond sympathetically to help children who are upset, hurt or angry.
- Staff show respect for children. (Listen attentively, makes eye contact, treat children fairly)
- Staff encourage the development of mutual respect between children and adults. (Staff wait until children finish asking questions before answering; encourage children in a polite way to listen when adults speak)
- Staff model good social skills. (are kind to others, listen, empathize, cooperate)
- Staff help children develop appropriate social behavior with peers. (help children talk through conflicts; encourage socially isolated children to find friends; help children understand feelings of others)
- The diaper changing area is located away from eating and food preparation area. (The diaper changing area and food preparation area shall be physically separated. The changing area shall not be used for temporary placement of food or utensils or for serving of food. Food and drinking utensils shall not be washed in these sinks.)
- Dispose soiled diapers in a plastic-lined, hands-free, covered trash can. Soiled cloth diapers and soiled clothing that are to be sent home shall be individually bagged. (Soiled diapers shall be stored inside the facility in containers separate from other waste. Washable, plastic-lined, tightly covered receptacles, with a firmly fitting cover that does not require touching with contaminated hands and objects, shall be provided within arm’s reach of diaper changing table.)
- Infant sleeping areas do not have soft beddings, pillows, fluffy blankets or stuffed toys.
- Infant cribs have slats spaced no more than 2-3/8” apart. No more than 2 fingers can fit between the mattress and the crib side. (Children have strangled because their shoulder or neck became caught in a gap between slats or between mattress and crib side that was too wide)
- Cribs. Cots, sleeping mats or pads shall be placed at least 3 feet apart. (Separate sleeping and resting reduces the spread of disease from one child to another.)
- The minimum height from the top of the mattress to the top of the crib rail is 20”. Cribs have secure latching devices and shall not have corner post extension over 1/16”.(Corner posts present a potential for clothing entanglement and strangulation.)
- Infants are placed on their back when they sleep. Infants head shall remain uncovered. (Unless the child has a note from a physician specifying otherwise, infants shall be placed in the supine (back) position for sleeping to lower the risks of SIDS. When infants can easily turn over from the supine to the prone position, they shall be put down to sleep on their back, but allowed to adopt whatever position they prefer for sleep)
- Breast milk is placed in properly labeled bottles and is kept in the refrigerator when not used. (Expressed breast milk shall be discarded if it has been unrefrigerated for an hour or more. Unused breast milk shall be discarded after 48 hours if refrigerated.)
- When bottle feeding, the caregivers shall either hold infants or feed them sitting up. The facility shall not permit infants/toddlers to have bottles in the crib or to carry bottles with them either during the day or at night.
- Toys that cannot be washed and sanitized shall not be used. Toys that are mouthed shall be set aside where children cannot access them. Toys must be set aside until they are washed with water and detergent, rinsed, sanitized and air-dried or washed in a mechanical dishwasher. Caregiver shall closely supervise to prevent shared mouthing of toys.)
- Toys or small objects available to children under 3 shall meet the federal small parts standard for toys. Examples are toys or objects with removable parts with a diameter less than 1-1/4” and 2-1/4” in length; balls smaller than 1-3/4” in diameter, toys with sharp points and edges, plastic bags, styrofoam objects, rubber balloons, marbles. (Any part smaller than these has a potential choking hazard)
Appendix A
First Aid and Emergency Supplies
The facility should maintain first aid and emergency supplies in each location where children are cared for. The first aid kit or supplies should be kept in a closed container, cabinet, or drawer that is labeled and stored in a location known to all staff, accessible to staff at all times, but locked or otherwise inaccessible to children. When children leave the facility for a walk or to be transported, a designated staff member should bring a transportable first aid kit. In addition, a transportable first aid kit should be in each vehicle that is used to transport children to and from a child care facility.
First aid kits or supplies should be restocked after use. An inventory of first aid supplies should be conducted at least monthly. A log should be kept that lists the date that each inventory was conducted, verification that expiration dates of supplies were checked, location of supplies (i.e. in the facility supply, transportable first aid kit(s) etc.), and the legal name/signature of the staff member who completed the inventory.
The first aid kit should contain at least the following items:
Disposable nonporous, latex-free or non-powdered latex gloves (latex-free recommended); Scissors; Tweezers; Non-glass, non-mercury thermometer to measure a child’s temperature; Bandage tape; bandages; Safety pins; Eye patch or dressing; Pen/pencil and note pad; Cold pack; Liquid soap to wash injury and hand sanitizer, used with supervision, if hands are not visibly soiled or if no water is present; Tissues; Wipes; Adhesive strip bandages, plastic bags for cloths; Flashlight; Whistle;
When children walk or are transported to another location, the transportable first aid kit should include ALL items listed above AND the following emergency information/items:
List of children in attendance (organized by caregiver/teacher they are assigned to) and their emergency contact information (i.e. parents/guardian/emergency contact home, work and cellphone numbers); Special
care plans for children who have them; Emergency medications or supplies as specified in the special care plans; List of emergency contacts (i.e. location information and phone numbers for the Poison center, nearby hospitals or other emergency care clinics and other community resource agencies); Maps; Written transportation policy and contingency plans.