285 2 5 Chapter 11 Promoting Children’s Safety
★ providing safe indoor and
outdoor equipment
★ operating a center with the
required adult-child ratios
★ providing proper supervision
★ providing proper food storage
★ maintaining fence and door
locks in proper condition
★ providing staff with
information about children’s
special needs
★ refraining from corporal
(physical) punishment
★ providing a safe building
★ removing children who lack
self-control and are a hazard to
themselves as well as others
★ covering electrical outlets
Center directors and staff must
keep constant watch over the center
environment. They must ensure that
it is safe as well as healthy. New
teachers will need constant support
from the staff and director.
Forms
Every center should develop
a number of forms related to the
health and safety of the children.
Many of these forms direct the
staff in the care of the children and
protect staff members from possible
liability. Two forms commonly used
by centers are injury report forms
and various types of release or
permission forms.
Every center should have a
standard injury report form. Any
information recorded on this form
is useful if legal action is brought
against the center. Parents also need
to be informed about the details of
a child’s accident. A sample form is
shown in 11-12.
Various permission forms
should also be on fi le. These forms fi
should be filled out at the time of fi
the child’s enrollment. Permission
is usually required for such items
as special screening tests or
walks around the neighborhood.
To protect children from being
picked up from the center by a
stranger, unauthorized person,
or even a noncustodial parent, a
transportation form should be used.
This form should contain the names,
relationship, telephone numbers,
and driver’s license numbers of
people who have permission to
transport the child to and from
the center. Staff should check the
identifi of anyone other than fication
the parents who comes to pick up
the child from the program. In the
S S S Sa Sa fety-conscious fe ty -c on sc io us s s taff ta ff m m embers em be rs w w atch at ch f f or or
danger d in all situations.
S S
d
11-11