Promoting Children’s Safety

You are the only thing protecting the child from danger!

Safety Objectives

• Supervise the children at all times. • Maintain at least the minimum adult-child ratio as required in

your state.• Develop safety limits. • Provide a safe environment • Practice fire safety. • Develop plans for weather emergencies. • Know emergency procedures for accidental poisoning. • Recognize signs of child abuse and report any known or

suspected cases. • Teach children how to protect themselves from sexual

assault.

Supervise the Children at All Times

• Must protect the children until they can protect themselves

• Children are unpredictable, quick, and fearless without judgment

• Keep your back to the wall

• Move closer if you see something happening

• Keep rooms clean

Maintain Minimum Adult-Child Ratios

• Ratio relates directly to safety• Always follow state law • Legal actions can be taken by the state

Develop Safety Limits

• Limits – guides to actions and behaviors that reflect the goals of a program

• Make them simple and easy to understand – Walk indoors– Use blocks for building – Wipe up spills right away– Tell the teacher when something breaks– Go up the ladder and down the slide– Wear a helmet

• Remind children about the limits

Provide a Safe Environment

• Pick safe toys and materials greatly reduces the risk of serious injury

• Choose appropriate toys for their age • Check toys frequently for damage • Playground

– Plan it with safety in mind – Evaluate equipment for safety – http://

abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/video/summer-safety-protect-kids-playground-11011531

Practice Fire Safety

• Learn how to use a fire extinguisher• Practice Fire Drills

– You may only care two children at a time – Some centers use cribs with wheels to take large groups of immobile

children out at once. – Bring your attendance list with you to check for all of the children – Stay calm, so your children wont panic

Sun Safety

• Protect children's skin by going out before 10 am or after 4 pm.

• Put sun screen on 30 minutes prior to going outside • Reapply if out longer than 2 hours

Poisonings

• Have the local poison control number posted by every phone

• Call the poison control for any suspicions of poison. • Do not follow the directions on the bottle, call poison control

Neglect and Abuse

• Abuse or neglect reports have tripled over the last 25 years• Three leading factors

– Financial problems– Substance abuse– Stress of handling parental responsibilities

Nonaccidental Physical Injury

• Nonaccidental Physical Injury – physical abuse inflicted on purpose.

• Frequent complaints of pain• May have fear of adults • Page 85 Bottom Paragraph

Neglect

• Neglect – when children are not given the basic needs of life– Proper food– Medical and dental care– Shelter– Clothing

• Neglect may or may not be intentional on the part of the abuser • Possible signs

– Arrives early is or is picked up late– Wears inappropriate or unclean clothing– Child seems hungry always – Medical needs are unmet– Poor hygiene often results in odor– Child appears fatigued or falls asleep

Emotional Abuse

• Emotional Abuse – abuse of a child’s self-concept through words or actions

• Signs– Refusal to talk– Unusual or unpredictable behavior– Rare smiling or laughter– Excessive clinging or crying– Withdrawn behavior– Destructive behavior– Poor motor coordination for age – Fear of adults

Sexual Abuse

• Sexual Abuse – forcing a child to observe or engage in sexual activities with an adult.

• Teach the difference between good touch, bad touch• Follow centers guidelines for teaching about sexual abuse• 85-90% of sexual abusers know their victim • Signs

– Walking or sitting problems– Bruises under clothing– Extremely disruptive or aggressive behaviors– Regress to infantile behaviors

Reporting Child Abuse

• Teachers are Mandated Reporters of child abuse• As along as you make the report in good faith, you will not

be subject to legal action if your suspicions are found not to be found as abuse

• Follow your centers guidelines• Call 715-246-8285• Penalties for failing to make a report

– $1,000 fine– 6 Months in Jail– Page – 5 - 2nd paragraph