| Medical Security in schools is surely one of the most | | | | Many schools have established a routine safety check |
| important issues on the minds of parents and school | | | | list for teachers to use each day. The classroom |
| staff. What are some of the medical safety issues | | | | opener is responsible for going through the check list |
| that really need to be addressed to ensure a proper | | | | and signing off on it that day. The daily safety check |
| line of defense? What pre-planning can be established | | | | lists are filed away for possible future reference |
| so that the staff who first encounters a problem will | | | | should an incident occur. |
| know how to respond. | | | | Second, let the staff be completely trained in |
| Realistically speaking, most early childhood programs | | | | emergency care. While the entire teaching staff |
| are populated by two rather defenseless populations: | | | | needs to be aware of the importance of preventive |
| young children and the women who are caring for | | | | measures, sooner or later, a true emergency will |
| those young children. School is a fun place where | | | | present itself. At that time, the staff will be |
| children come to play and learn. And school is a | | | | expected to respond appropriately. This means that |
| dangerous place where slips and falls, and different | | | | all staff members must be trained to respond to the |
| substances such as cleaning supplies or ordinary food | | | | most common emergencies. |
| could become deadly. We need to help teachers | | | | In this arena, staff members can prepare by taking |
| become competent and diligent in recognizing areas | | | | CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation), First Aid, and |
| where prevention can help. We also need to ensure | | | | MAT (Medication Administration Training) classes. |
| teachers are adequately trained to handle the specific | | | | These classes certify teachers for a specified period |
| emergencies that commonly arise in a child care | | | | of time. Upon the certification expiration date, it is |
| center. | | | | imperative staff members take the certification |
| First, let the school begin with an emphasis on | | | | renewal class. |
| prevention. Providing a safe environment for children | | | | Staff members can familiarize themselves with |
| to prevent medical emergencies from happening is | | | | common products and plants that can be poisonous |
| everyone's responsibility. In this area, safety training | | | | to small children. The National Poison Control Number |
| for staff and parents can go a long way to improve | | | | can be posted in the classroom and at all telephones |
| safety standards. Toward that end, teachers can | | | | in the center. |
| begin with routine inspections. | | | | Staff members can familiarize themselves with child |
| All areas of the classroom and equipment are | | | | abuse and neglect recognition information. They need |
| checked for broken toys, splintering blocks, | | | | to know their legal obligations in this area. The |
| uncovered electrical outlets or dangling window blind | | | | National Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline number can be |
| cords. | | | | posted in the classroom and at all telephones in the |
| Each day, before each play session, the outside play | | | | center. |
| area is inspected for broken equipment, broken glass, | | | | It is an excellent idea for each school to have |
| or other foreign objects that may cause an injury. | | | | developed their own emergency plan and to practice |
| Areas around classroom sinks and toilets are | | | | that plan. For example: |
| inspected so slipping accidents may be avoided from | | | | Who will remain with the injured child? |
| spilled water. | | | | Who will make the call for emergency services? |
| Food safety is ensured by keeping refrigeration | | | | Who will call the parent? |
| temperatures in the safe zone through the use of an | | | | Who will go to the hospital with the child? |
| inside refrigerator. Suspicious food is discarded. Food | | | | If the building needed to be evacuated, where will |
| that is cooked or heated is served only after | | | | the children and staff go? |
| checking it will not cause a burn. | | | | And after the immediate crisis has passed, who will |
| A list children with known food allergies, and the food | | | | be responsible for documenting the incident for the |
| they are allergic to, must be posted in the classroom | | | | record? |
| so that all staff members are aware of dangerous | | | | There is no doubt that if you work with small children |
| food items for those children. This list is not public | | | | there will be some type of emergency that develops. |
| information. It contains medical information that must | | | | It can be a scraped knee, a head injury, a seizure, an |
| be protected under HIPPA laws. Privacy is maintained | | | | asthma attack, or an allergic response to a bee sting. |
| by simply placing a blank cover sheet over the allergy | | | | There is nothing like having an advance emergency |
| listings. | | | | plan in place along with emergency training to help |
| Dangerous cleaning materials are locked and out of a | | | | staff meet the challenge of assessing the emergency |
| child's reach. | | | | and getting the help that is needed. |