Safety Tutorial for Child Care Aide

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Safety Tutorial for Child Care Aide

• By Diane Nelson
• Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education
  Center

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Training Tasks for Child Care Aide

• Organize and participate in recreational
  activities with the children.
• Provide developmentally appropriate disciplinary
  measures for the children.
• Instruct the children in health and personal
  habits such as eating, resting, and toilet
  habits.
• Assist in preparing food for the children and
  serve meals and refreshments to the children.

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Training Tasks for Child Care Aide

• Dress the children and change diapers.
• Keep records on individual children, including
  daily observations and information about
  activities, meals served and medication
  administered.
• Identify signs of emotional or developmental
  problems in children and discuss with their
  parents or guardians.
• Observe and monitor childrens play activities.

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Pre-Test

• The younger the children, the lower the
  staff-to-child ratio?
• Spanking a child is allowed with the parents
  permission?
• Toys that cannot be washed and sanitized should
  not be used?
• After assisting the child with hand washing, the
  staff member should wash his or her own hands?
• Before a child enters a child care facility, the
  caregiver should obtain a written history for
  that child.

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Appropriate Clothing

• Clothing should be casual and comfortable so you
  are able to freely move around with the children.
  No tight fitting and revealing clothing allowed.
  
• No big jewelry where the children can pull on it.

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Safety Equipment

• Electrical outlet covers
• Safety gates
• Cabinet, door, and appliance locks
• Edge and corner guards
• Baby monitor
• Cord wind-ups
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher

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Tools

• Cribs
• Soft bedding
• Bottles, cups, plates, and utensils
• Portable mattresses for nap time
• Books and toys
• Art and craft supplies

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Equipment

• Playground equipment
• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator

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Electrical

• All electrical outlets should be covered and
  mounted higher on the walls.
• All electrical cords should out of reach of the
  children so they cannot play with them.

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Floors, Doors, Exits

• All doors should be locked and everyone enters
  from the main entrance and buzzed in.
• There should be exit signs clearly displayed.
• The floors should always be dried to prevent
  slipping. Everyone must be careful of tripping
  over toys out on the floor.

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Chemical Hazards

• All toxic substances like cleaning supplies and
  pest killer should be locked up and out of reach
  of the children.
• The building should be checked for dangerous
  substances like lead and asbestos.
• The poison control information should be posted.

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Ergonomic Hazards - Lifting

• Back injury is a common problem for a child care
  worker because you are constantly lifting up
  children. You must be aware of the proper way to
  lift to protect yourself from injury.

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Fire

• The day care center should have an evacuation
  plan in case of fire. This plan should be posted
  in each classroom.
• The day care center should practice fire drills
  regularly.
• The center should have fire extinguishers.
• The center should have a current fire inspection
  certificate displayed.
• The center should have smoke detectors.

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Infectious Diseases

• Any infectious disease should be reported to the
  Department of Health and the other parents in the
  center immediately.
• Caregivers and children should wash their hands
  often, especially before eating and after using
  the bathroom or changing diapers.

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Angry/threatening Customers

• It is important to provide feedback to the
  parents regularly regarding their child and
  address any concerns they have immediately.
• Document any problems with a child and any
  meetings you have with the parents.

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How and to Whom Do You Report an Injury

• An injury incurred by a child care worker or
  child should be documented and reported to the
  director immediately.
• The child care worker should be trained on how to
  recognize signs of child abuse and how to report
  suspected child abuse.

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Post Test

1. Crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8 apart?
2. Pillows could be left in the crib when the baby
   is sleeping?
3. Check playground equipment regularly to make sure
   they are maintained in good condition?
4. Safety gates are used to keep children away from
   potentially dangerous areas?
5. It is permissible to leave a child unsupervised
   while he or she is sleeping, as long as the
   sleeping arrangements are safe and in compliance.

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Post Test

1. Caregivers should never leave a child alone on a
   table or countertop, unless an emergency arises?
2. The facility should notify the parents of any
   suspected allergic reactions?
3. The facility should practice fire drills with the
   children?
4. If the child fell during the day and did not get
   hurt you do not need to inform the parent?
5. If you suspect a behavior problem with the child
   you should discuss it with the parent?

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Answers to Pre and Post Test

• Pre Test Answers Post Test Answers
• 1. T 1. T 6. F
• 2. F 2. F 7. T
• 3. T 3. T 8. T
• 4. T 4. T 9. F
• 5. T 5. F 10. T

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Safety Web Resources

• www.nrc.ushsc.edu National Resource Center for
  Health and Safety in Child Care
• www.cpsc.gov U.S. Consumer Product Safety
  Commission
• www.acf.hhs.gov U.S. Dept of Health Human
  Services Administration for Children and
  Families