Creative Health and Safety Experiences

Objectives

Discuss the basic health practices in the ECE program

Discuss the appropriate way to work with young children in health and safety matters

Discuss traffic safety, fire safety, and poison safety in the ECE curriculum

Health and Safety in the Early Years

Good health and safety practices need to be modeled by adults as much as they are included in actual lesson plans

Your actions surely speak louder than words

Health Practices

Simple Health Practicesbrushing teethbrushing hairbathing regularlygeneral interest in cleanlinessgetting enough sleepgetting enough good food

These tasks are first taught at home and are then reinforced in the classroom

No way should learning personal hygiene be a cause for shame or negative comments

Positive Approach to Health and Hygiene

Emphasis must be on the positive view of self

Large mirror at child’s level Sink easily operated by children Soap that children can easily use

– Bar of soap in an old knee high stocking tied to the faucet of the sink?????? Good/bad

Continued

Daily routines serve as the basis for teaching children concept of body functions and parts

Habits of caring for themselves Washing hands before/after using the toilet

and before eating; brushing teeth after eating Routines like these should be established

and followed at all age levels

Early Childhood Health Concerns

Teachers can do very little to prevent illnesses in school

BUT teachers can do a great deal to prevent injuries at school

Provide simple first aid and comfort, then notify the parent according to instructions

Prevention concerning poisonous plants

Safety Education

Accidents are the leading cause of death for children under age 14

Accidents occur most frequently to those who have had little opportunity to explore, to find out for themselves, or to experience minor scraps and bumps – children who feel no responsibility for their own safety

Have no idea of the consequences and experience in making decisions or judging hazards

Safety Continued

A safe environment is one that is free from hazards and contains the presence of a diligent, observing, and supervising adult

Emergency plans should be written and posted

Teach children how to use the phone to dial emergency numbers or operator

Think ahead, practice, practice, practice Decide about the precautions required for

special needs students

Safety Continued

Keep a first aid kit ready and refreshed periodically– Assorted adhesive bandages– Sterile gauze squares– Roll of 1” wide adhesive tape– Absorbent cotton– Antibacterial spray– Petroleum jelly– Cloth or absorbent sanitary pads– Cold packs in freezer– At least one permanent staff person trained in CPR

Rules for Safety

http://www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/video/safety_rules.shtm

Traffic Safety

Real experiences are the best way to teach young children about traffic

Most common cause of traffic accidents involving children is darting out in front of cars

Goals include:– Stop before entering any street– Listen and look for traffic before crossing the street– Walk across residential streets cautiously– Be able to interpret traffic signs and signals

correctly

Stop Before Entering Any Street

For children under age 5 First lesson should be on stopping before

entering any street For children under age 2 First lesson begins by going outside and

identifying the different surfaces of the school and play yard and stopping every time the surface changes

Listen and Look for Traffic

2nd lesson Children learn to look and listen for traffic

before crossing the street With adult supervision, take a field trip to

learn the precautions Practice observing traffic and identifying

directions as well as speed at which cars are traveling

Crossing a Residential Street

Construct a pretend street with crosswalks and corners

Role-playing pedestrians and drivers Reminded to stop at surfaces of yard

changes and the street, begins to listen and look for oncoming traffic

Tabletop with toy cars and people

More Safety Facts…

Running to cross is another major cause of traffic deaths

Children who are less coordinated than adults will trip and fall in front of oncoming traffic

Teach children to walk with deliberate speed as they cross

Interpreting Traffic Signals and Signs Correctly

Children need to be taught the meaning of the lights and signals found at intersections

Red is used to symbolize danger and means “stop”

Use red on objects that may be hazardous Play “follow-the-leader” games

Daily check of your center

http://www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/video/childs_eye_view.shtm

Fire Safety

Goals of Fire Safety include– Teaching children to approach fire with caution

and respect– Involving children in practice fire drills– Teaching young children to “drop and roll” should

they be involved in a fire– Teaching young children where the fire

extinguisher is and how to use it, as well as how to call the fire department

More Fire Safety…

Invite a firefighter to the classroom Ask yourself the questions on handout Licensing requires this to be posted and

practiced on a monthly basis for Child Care Centers.

Poison Safety

Thousands of children each year are victims of accidental poisoning

You are responsible to teach children to take medicines only from adult family members, parents, physicians, or health personnel

You are responsible to teach children to understand that some things are to eat, while others are not

Using food for art confuses children on this point

Poisons Plants

http://www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/video/poisonous_plants.shtm

More Poison Safety…

Children under age 5 must have careful supervision You are responsible for observing the children,

freeing the environment from poisonous substances, and removing nonfood objects that do find their way into the children’s mouths

Check your room and outdoor play area for all poisonous substances, and remove the ones you find

Cleaning supplies Food items are stored separately from nonfood items

Out door Safety

http://www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/video/outdoor_safety.shtm

Zone Supervision

http://www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/video/zone_supervision.shtm

Suggested Activities

Demonstrate how germs are spread by dipping a tissue into flour and pretend to “sneeze.” Flour goes everywhere, just like germs!

Puppets Cold and germs with a spray bottle