Safety Practices and Policies

It is important for professionals to always have a clear set of policies in the early childhood environment to ensure the safety of children at all times. I will discuss some of the potential hazardous situations common to preschoolers and they are: campus safety, playground safety, good nutrition, physical contact, and report child abuse and neglect.
Campus safety is vital for young children. Preschoolers are vulnerable and should be safe at all times. It is important for parents to check in at the front office and sign their child in and out because unfortunately, staff and administrators may not know every parent and this will alert them of strangers entering the building. Schools should often do a weapon search for the safety of all children and staff workers. There are so many students dying from weapons that are entered into campus buildings. Teachers must monitor preschoolers at all time, especially during dismissal. Para pros should hold on to students hands and make sure they get into the right car and bus safely. Parents should practice safety strategies at home as well. Parents should teach children do not open doors to strangers, as well put the computer in the family room, or where you can keep an eye on the screen. (http://www.childquest.org/SafetytipsforParents.pdf)
Playground safety should be effective daily. Faculty equipment, improper surfaces, and careless behavior are just a few of the hazards of playgrounds. Each year more than 200,000 children are treated in hospitals ERs for playground-related injuries. Many could have been prevented with proper supervision. It is important to check the playground for potential hazards and teach children the rules of the playground. The surface is one of the most important factors in reducing injuries. The surface under the playground equipment should be soft enough and thick enough to soften the impact of a child’s fall. The playground should be free of standing water, rocks, debris, and tree stumps that may cause a child to fall. There should be no dangerous materials, like broken glass or twisted metals. Although proper surfacing may not prevent all injuries, it will reduce a lot of injuries. There are safe strategies that parents should practice outdoors for their children, such as checking the yard for unsafe objects. Make sure a child is not playing in an area where ticks may be lurking and are other dangerous insects. Teach children not to play with stray pets or animals. Teach children to always wear shoes outside.
It is important to remove all poisoning substances away from children. By the time a child starts to crawl, the home needs to be poison proof. Because there are many poisoning substances such as medications, plants, cleaning products, etc. There are safety policies that need to be practice daily. For example, potential poisons should be stored in cabinets located with safety locks. Keep products in their original containers never put poisons in other containers avoid pill cases for medications. (http://wisconsin.poison.org) Do not take medications in front of children since they like to imitate adults. Some safety strategies to apply at home are always monitoring your child; always check to make sure storage areas are locked.
Choking is the fourth cause of unintentional death in children under the age of 5. Children under the age of 5 are at a greater risk. Toys, household items and foods can all be a choking hazard. Some safety precautions parents may take at home to prevent a child from choking are: never leave a child unattended while eating, children should have a calm unhurried meal, children should not eat while walking, riding in a car, or playing, and become familiar with life saving techniques. There are some choking hazard foods such as popcorn, ice cubes, candy, popcorn, and peanut butter. Parents should practice these safety strategies at home. Pay attention to those foods, toys and households hazards mentioned that pose choking hazards to ensure child safety. Model safe eating habits and chew food thoroughly. Take CPR training regularly. (http://www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/injury_prevention/choking_prevention_for_children.htm)
In conclusion, it is important to encourage families to practice better safety for children in homes as well as in school. Schools should practice campus safety, playground safety, nutrition, fire drills, first aid kits, and emergency contact phone numbers. Preschoolers are at the age when they will explore their environment to ensure their safety parents and teachers should monitor them at all times.

References
Retrieved on September 17, 2009 from: (http://wisconsin.poison.org
Retrieved on September 17, 2009 from: (http://www.childquest.org/SafetytipsforParents.pdf) Retrieved on September 17, 2009 from: ((http://www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/injury_prevention/choking_prevention_for_children.htm