Section 1: Healthy food and Nutrition

                                                                             
                                             

Section 1:  Safety Practices and Polices

Erica Wilford

Educ 1005

September 8, 2013

Section 1

Begin Section 1 of your course project (which will become your first blog entry) by choosing whether you are going to focus on infants/toddlers or preschoolers. In your entry you must demonstrate an understanding of the risks for injuries associated with the developmental level of your selected age group. If you are currently working with children, you may use your program's safety policies as one of your resources. Also, draw on Chapters 2, 3, and 4 in your course text for recommended safety policies and specific safety issues associated with your selected age group.

For this section of your blog, complete the following:

•  Identify at least five potentially hazardous situations/safety threats common to your age group.

         I have had the pleasure of working with infants and toddlers for many years.  I enjoyed working with infants and toddlers.  To identify five potentially hazardous for infants and toddlers will be small objects, poisons, unsafe playground, falls, and pools.  The safety of children should be our first propriety.  “A parent of friend choosing a toy for child must consider several things.  A good toy should be safe for child’s age, well-constructed, and durable, appealing and interesting to the child, suited to the child’s physical capabilities, and suited to the child’s mental and social development” (Goodson, 1993).”  So, therefore small objects should be kept out of their reach.  Parents and caregivers should only allow children to play with toys that are appropriate for their ages.  Small toys can become a choking hazardous for small children.  There are also foods that are not appropriate for infants and toddlers that can cause them to choke to death.  For example, parents and caregivers should not feed infants and toddler’s grapes, peanut butter, hot dogs, balloons, and popcorn.  I can recall being small and getting choked off of peanut butter and my sister had to hit me in the back.  I had a friend who lost her two year old because of popcorn.  For some reason the seed of the popcorn got caught in the child throat and my friend did not know it.

• Describe measures that should be taken to prevent and/or deal with these situations/threats.
•   Indicate what families can do to ensure the safety of the child at home.

        “Keep poisons up high and locked” (Robertson, 2013, p.143).”  Poisons have caused the life of small children. Chemicals as bleach, medications, ammonia, insect sprays, playground chips, and housing cleaning should be kept up high and under lock.  It is vital that parents and caregivers watch what their children places in their mouths at all times.  Infants and toddlers are so curiosity of objects that they cannot resist placing them in their mouths.  I can recall one of my infants placing outdoor chips in his mouth.   It is also vital to keep medication out of infants and toddlers mouth because if, the medicine is sweet they can overdose on it.  I can recall when my two year old son found my bottle of vitamins and tried to eat one, but it was so bitter that he spit it out. After, that I decided to make sure all of my medicines and chemicals was locked away.

         According to Robertson we should “check playground equipment for rough edges, rust, loose parts” (2013, p.142).” A day center where I used to worked was giving a citation because of some of the playground equipment was rusted.  The director had to remove the toys from the playground and replaced them with new ones.  It is also important to check the playground every day before the children entry for unsafe toys and insects.  So playground needs to be sprayed constantly because of ants.  The grass also needs to be mowed constantly during the summer and spring. “Wood chips or soft sand are best ground coverings under playground equipment” (Robertson, 2013, p. 142).”

Some accidents occur on the playground because of falls.  Wood chips and soft sand can help prevent severe falls. “Outdoor areas should be monitored, and equipment intended for older children may need to be modified for children under 2 years” (Robertson, 2013, p.142).”   I have seen a two years old fall from a swing because the swing was too high.  It is important for parents and caregivers to adjust swings suitable for two years old.  To help prevent falling children should only be allowed to climb on toys that are appropriate for their ages.  “Carefully watch while climbing on outdoor equipment.  Teach child safe play practices” (Robertson, 2013, p. 142).”

“Always supervise a child near anybody of water” (Robertson, 2013, p. 143).”  There have been many accidents because infants and toddlers are not being supervised near water.  My son felt into a swimming pool on his second birthday.  I am so glad that many people were watching after him because I was so involved in the party, that I was not watching him.   It is so vital for parents and caregivers to always keep their eyes on their children at all times especially when they are around water.  Robertson stated, “cover, fence, and lock gates for pools” (2013, p. 142).”

References

Robertson, C. (2013). Safety, Nutrition, & health in early education. (5th ed.).Belmont: Wadworth/Cengage Learning.

Goodson, B, & Bronson, M. (1993).  Which toy for which child: A consumer’s guide for selecting suitable toys (ages birth through five) [Pamplet]. Retrieved from U.S. consumer Product Safety commission: htttp://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs