Top Questions You Need to Ask Your Child's Daycare about
Emergency Preparedness
A quality daycare provider will be prepared properly for fires,
medical emergencies, sickness, storms and disasters. They will
be glad to answer questions you may have about emergency
preparedness. Below are some of the important questions you
would ask a daycare provider before enrolling your children.
How do you prepare for a fire, and how do you prevent it? A
responsible daycare will only permit a certain number children
per classroom. This enables quick exit in case of fire. They
will have working fire alarms that are tested once a week, and a
fire detector in every room in working condition. They will have
exit plans, fire exit maps on the walls of each room and
exercise routine fire drills at least one a week.
How do you deal with natural disasters? Day care staff should be
trained in handling natural disasters, for example, in some
areas of the country regular tornado drills are held so children
know exactly what to do. Also, they listen to weather reports
daily, and lead the children to the shelter when necessary. Some
workers are also skilled in stress and crisis management, to
handle stressful situations calmly and effectively.
How are you prepared for sickness? Reputable daycares ensure
that children with contagious sicknesses stay home, and will
contact you immediately if your child has a communicable
disease. The daycare will do their best to take care of children
with non-contagious sicknesses. Additionally, they will follow
all instructions you give them if your child must take
medications during the school day.
How do you deal with injuries? For a severe injury such as
severe burns, broken bone, twisted ankle, or internal injury, a
conscientious daycare will immediately contact you or one of
your emergency contacts. If they cannot get a hold of emergency
contacts, they will then call 911.
For minor injuries like a minor cut, scrap, or bruise, how will
they handle it? The day care worker should take care of it on
site, as well as document it and report it to the parents as
soon as the parent picks the child up.
How do you deal with a medical emergency? A good daycare will
have daycare workers that are certified in CPR and trained in
the Heimlich maneuver, in case a child is choking and cannot
breathe.