Preschoolers -
Once children reach a preschool age of three and four, they start to come upon a multitude of safety issues and hazardous situations. In the midst, these safety issues five of them are most important to me. The safety concerns or problems I am identifying are injuries during supervised and unsupervised times, choking, dangerous weapons, drowning and poisoning.
Drowning-
The leading cause of death among children is drowning. Most drownings are because of the absence of a parent or caregiver supervision. Some other reasons for drowning are parents not watching as children play near home pools and bathtub water. Safety policies listed for water play during daycare are no children under age three is permitted to be in the kiddie pools (Brandemeyer, Shunt, & Kurtz, 2013). Two to three ratios of caregivers to children during water play activities. Infants and toddlers under age three must be kept inside during water play activities. Water balloons are not permitted at any time. No more than two inches of water is allowed in the kiddie pools (Brandemeyer, Shunt, & Kurtz, 2013). The measure that can be taken to prevent accidental drownings is following the policy’s listed in the safety guide always, monitor children when around water with full supervision, and have all caregivers certified in first aid and CPR (Editor, 2014).
Parents can confirm the safety of their children at home by safeguarding the children. Warn them against playing near the swimming pool. Keeping a locked gated area around a home pool. Parents must educate children on safety practices such as lessons, safety devices, and rules on what to do if an accidental fall occurs in a swimming pool.
Poisoning-
Preschool children are curious creatures. Brightly colored liquids and containers attract their preschooler’s attention because the bright colors look like candy and juices (Berger, 2016). Preschool children cannot understand labels on bottles or can read the descriptions. All they see is a brightly colored drink that looks inviting. Safety guidelines listed are all chemicals to be locked up. All cleaning supplies shall be in one cabinet locked and behind a locked door (Brandemeyer, Shunt, & Kurtz, 2013). No chemicals shall be left unattended while cleaning up play areas (Editor, 2014). No children are permitted in a room while it's being cleaned. After meals are served, children are to be moved to another while cleanup takes place (Brandemeyer, Shunt, & Kurtz, 2013).
Measures in place need to be always followed. Education should be given to children on the effects of drinking unknown liquids.
In the home, parents can take the proper precautions to lock lower cabinets to keep children out. They can also if available keep doors closed to laundry areas. Poison control numbers should be readily available in case of an emergency.
Choking-
A choking threat is any object that could be lodged in a child’s throat blocking their airway and making it problematic or intolerable to breathe. Developing children naturally explore items by sticking them in their mouths. Preschool children have a risk of choking on small toys, coins, Legos, and food (Brandemeyer, Shunt, & Kurtz, 2013). Policies in place restrict certain foods. Food such as nuts, raw vegetables, chunks of meats including hot dogs or cheese is not permitted to be served to children under age five (Brandemeyer, Shunt, & Kurtz, 2013). Small building blocks are not to be used in playrooms with children under age five (Brandemeyer, Shunt, & Kurtz, 2013). Some safety measure to follow when serving meals makes sure food is cut into small pieces (Editor, 2014). Follow all guidelines on nutrition. While children are eating they need to be seated in the upright position in a chair pushed up to a table. Supervision should be applied during the complete meal.
Parents can take precautions to make children sit and not walk around with food. Children should not be allowed to eat in a car while driving or moving. Playrooms should be free of small objects, latex balloons, pens or markers, coins, and marbles.
Injuries during a supervised & unsupervised time-
Injuries can happen at any time. Children are natural risk takers. They don’t understand that they can get hurt until a fall or injury happens. More injuries occur due to lack of supervision than during supervision. Policies and guidelines in place will help with unsupervised injuries however not all hazards can be prevented. Among these injuries include accidents caused by equipment that is malfunctioned. Guidelines laid out for checking equipment used by children to assess their condition and function. Supervision should be the proper ratio for caregivers to children. Injury’s such as falls, from heights because of missing bars, other children pushing trying to get a turn, or holes in surfaces not adequately inspected.
Parents can take precautions by educating their children on always following directions or their caregiver. They can also teach their children about assessing the equipment they are playing on and if they recognize something dangerous to tell an adult.
Dangerous items-
Numerous items can become potentially hazardous and be a danger to preschoolers. Sticks, knives, scissors, forks, firearms in a home environment can all be a safety hazard for preschoolers. Injuries that can occur are running with sticks could poke out an eye or pierce the skin. Knives and forks used in daycare during food handling. Scissors during activities could cause injury to oneself or another child. Firearms in the home are a severe risk because of the curiosity of children. Measure to be taken to prevent injuries are keeping debris clear of the outside play area (Editor, 2014). Supervision always with the proper ratio of children to a caregiver. Guidelines state for rounded child scissors only (Brandemeyer, Shunt, & Kurtz, 2013). Scissors are to be used while the child is seated at the table alone. Rubber tipped forks and spoons will be used by the children during mealtime (Brandemeyer, Shunt, & Kurtz, 2013). Knives and other prepping utensils will be put away and locked in a cabinet before serving.
Parents can follow the same safety measures lined out by the daycare policies. Parents who own firearms should keep all weapons and ammunition under lock and key. Weapons should not be displayed in front of children. Parents and teachers both should educate the children on gun survival safety and what to do in a situation when a gun is present.
References
Berger, K. S. (2016). The Developing Person Through Childhood. New York: Worth Publishers.
Brandemeyer, G., Shunt, P., & Kurtz, C. (2013). Immanuel Lutheran Safety Operating Procedures & Guidelines. Okawville, IL: Okawville Times Publishing.
Editor. (2014, September 22). Illinois Department of Children & family services. Retrieved from http://nrckids.org/STATES/states.htm: https://www2.illinois.gov/dcfs/aboutus/notices/documents/rules_407.pdf
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