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Additional Information
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Child Care Safety Checklist for Parents
and Child Care Providers
• CRIBS: Make sure cribs meet current
national safety standards and are in good condition. Look
for a certification safety seal. Older cribs may not meet
current standards. Crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8"
apart, and mattresses should fit snugly.
This can prevent strangulation and suffocation associated
with older cribs and mattresses that are too small.
• SOFT BEDDING: Be sure that no pillows, soft bedding, or comforters are used
when you put babies to sleep. Babies should be put to sleep
on their backs in a crib with a firm, flat mattress.
This can help reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
and suffocation related to soft bedding.
• PLAYGROUND SURFACING: Look for safe surfacing on outdoor playgrounds - at least
12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand or pea gravel, or mats
made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials.
This helps protect against injuries from falls, especially
head injuries.
• PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE: Check playground
surfacing and equipment regularly to make sure they are maintained
in good condition.
This can help prevent injuries, especially from falls.
• SAFETY GATES: Be sure that safety
gates are used to keep children away from potentially dangerous
areas, especially stairs.
Safety gates can protect against many hazards, especially
falls.
• WINDOW BLIND AND CURTAIN CORDS: Be
sure miniblinds and venetian blinds do not have looped cords.
Check that vertical blinds, continuous looped blinds, and
drapery cords have tension or tie-down devices to hold the
cords tight. Check that inner cord stops have been installed.
These safety devices can prevent strangulation in the
loops of window blind and curtain cords.
• CLOTHING DRAWSTRINGS:
Drawstrings can catch on playground and other equipment
and can strangle young children.
• RECALLED PRODUCTS: Check that no
recalled products are being used and that a current list of
recalled children's products is readily visible.
Recalled products pose a threat of injury or death. Displaying
a list of recalled products will remind caretakers and parents
to remove or repair potentially dangerous children's toys
and products.
To view this excellent
article on child care safety, produced by the Consumer Product
Safety Commission, please click here: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/chldcare.html
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