Safety Regulations
Some regulations govern childcare facilities and practices. The department of Human Services is responsible for setting the regulations governing the practice of childcare. The government licenses and regulates child care facilities and conduct regular inspections. Different requirements are set for group and school-based child care programs.
The environment surrounding young children should be risk and hazards free to promote the children’s healthy growth. There are numerous safety hazards, including fires, carbon monoxide, choking, drowning, and falls. The floors should be non-slip and dry; staircases should be stable and well lit. The environment should be free from open fires such as candles and should be placed away from children. Fire alarms that give real-time updates should be installed. Appropriate fire extinguishers in their proper working conditions should be available. Regular checking of fire extinguisher should be done to determine their conditions. It is advisable to install multipurpose fire extinguishers. Electrical appliances that are not used should be plugged off, and any frayed wires should be fixed (Crowley, A. A., Jeon, S., & Rosenthal, M. S. (2013).
Rooms should be made free from Carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide causes headaches, dizziness, vision impairment, high levels can cause death. To avoid hazards resulting from CO, it is important to install Carbon monoxide detectors. The detector will alert in case the level of Carbon monoxide reaches a dangerous level. Regular checking of HVAC system and other appliances that use gas or oil should be conducted to prevent carbon monoxide leakage. Chocking is a common cause of accidental death. Measure to reduce the occurrence of chocking should be put in place they include inspecting toys for any loose parts, keep away small food-like items away from children, monitor children playtime and, cup up food that is likely to block airways and loose foods like grapes and hot dog Crowley, A. A., Jeon, S., & Rosenthal, M. S. (2013).
Sharp-edged objects should not be near children, for they can cause injuries. The room should be toxic-proof such items as drugs, detergent soaps, and unleaded paints. Strangling is another environmental hazard to small children. To prevent this, keep away cords, remove window cords and wrap up blind cords. Children should be kept away from water than risk drowning. Children should be attended in the bathtub. A safe environment is good for the healthy growth and development of small children (Erinosho, T., et al., 2018).
Evaluation of the facility is done both internally and externally. Internal evaluation is done precisely and in order. Their focus is to determine how certain activities are conducted within the facility. It is done using a form filled with a scale. The staff is required to answer the questions diligently, giving their perspective for reliable information. Another form is filled by the child’s parents and guardians specifying how they are satisfied with the services offered. External evaluation is typically done by a third who was not previously involved in the child care agreement. In our facility, the Development co-operation Directorate conducts the evaluation. The evaluation follows three stages. The first stage involves consultation of existing documents and reports of the facility. The second stage involves meeting with the concerned stakeholders. The third stage analyzes the results from the field research and development of a comprehensive report, which entails the technical, institutional elements, and recommendations (Parallo, S. 2020).
Parent education is conducted by the facility to equip parents and guardians with skills and knowledge to keep children safe while at home. They are taught to keep the environment safe by keeping away toxic chemicals, removing toys with potentially hazardous effects. Making sure the furniture and the electrical appliances are safe and ensuring proper ventilation and lighting of the room. The facility has measures to respond to emergencies. The plan in place aims to protect the children and staff, react appropriately to emergencies, and address the needs of all involved in the case of a disaster strike. Fire and emergency drills are practiced regularly by both the staff and the children. They have designated points for meeting in case of emergency; the spot is safe and near the facility. The facility also has a comprehensive file of important information about all the children and staff. The data is stored digitally online. Emergency supplies, which include water and food, are stored on the site. The food and water are enough to cater to the population therein for several days. The staff, parents, and children are briefed on the disaster plan regularly to keep them informed on how to react in case of adversity (Erinosho, T., et al., 2018).
The environment is a crucial component in the growth and development of children; it directly affects learning effectiveness. An unsafe environment affects the mental health of the child as well as posing a physical threat. Physical environmental problems such as roofs leaking, issues with the HVAC system, and excess chemicals in the room can cause health issues such as Asthma and allergies. Sharp objects such as broken glasses can inflict injuries to the children (Alkon, A. et al., 2020). The code of ethical conduct and Christian doctrines portrays childhood as a unique and valuable stage in life. Promoting a safe environment is the adults’ primary responsibility; they should offer a safe, healthy, and nurturing setting for children. It is the caregivers’ moral responsibility to support the development of children, assist them in developing and learning to live and work with co-operation with others. Caregivers are also responsible for promoting positive self-image, encouraging healthy living, self-awareness, competence, instilling confidence, and resiliency in children.
Children educators can engage in informed advocacy to maximize young children’s learning opportunities and enhance the learning environment. They can achieve this by promoting child development and learning, building family and community relationships, Observing, Documenting, and Assessing to Support Young Children and Families. Being professional and employing developmentally effective approaches to connect with children and families (Parallo, S. 2020).
Based on the interview results and field study results, I realized that educators play a crucial role in child learning, growth, and development. This experience will help me in my future profession set up and assess strategies and measures to ensure young children’s safety. I learned the necessary planning conducted in the design of a child care facility, which will be very beneficial. This field research gave me a real-life experience of how to run a child care facility with competence.
Reference
Erinosho, T., Vaughn, A., Hales, D., Mazzucca, S., Gizlice, Z., Treadway, C., … & Ward, D. (2018). The quality of nutrition and physical activity environments of childcare centers across three states in the southern US. Preventive medicine, 113, 95-101.
Alkon, A., Rose, R., Hazard, K., & Moser, D. (2020). National Health and Safety Standards: Family Child Care Homes Compared With Child Care Centers. Journal of Pediatric Health Care.
Crowley, A. A., Jeon, S., & Rosenthal, M. S. (2013). Health and safety of child care centers: an analysis of licensing specialists’ reports of routine, unannounced inspections. American journal of public health, 103(10), e52-e58.
Parillo, S. 6e. Engaging in informed advocacy for children and the profession. Date Accessed 17 November 2020, from https://793599717900196427.weebly.com/6e-engaging-in-informed-advocacy-for-children-and-the-profession.html