Preschool Safety Tips

A lack of Preschool Safety had caused many preschoolers admitted to hospital. Statistics shows that 19,427 children aged 5 years and under from an average annual resident population of 163,000 children had 20,657 admissions for accidents before they were 6 years of age. Of these admissions, 13.,983 were for injuries, 5717 for poisonings, and 957 for burns.

The above report was taken from - Hospital admissions for accidents in preschool children conducted by the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Oxford, Headington. [PMC Free articles]

PRESCHOOL SAFETY TIPS FOR INDOOR ACTIVITIES

For physical activities indoor, give ample spacing between children if they are to be swinging their arms or kicking so they will not injure the kid beside.

Kids should know that when they are indoor, they should use their "indoor voice" to communicate. Indoor voice is like whispering or speaking softly and not disturbing others at work. So often a loud voice spoken indoor offends others and kids may end in a quarrel and fight.

Always have a First Aid kit or cupboard accessible

PRESCHOOL SAFETY AT CRAFT TIME

When using a pencil or a paintbrush, avoid poking their own eyes or the child beside. Adequate lessons on how to hold a pencil is necessary.

Ensure kids do not put a pencil in the top shirt pocket to avoid poking their eyes when they bend down. This happened in many occasions especially with school uniforms.

Teach the kids to handle and manipulate with the scissors, cutters, knives, before introducing any crafts that require them.

PRESCHOOL SAFETY IN THE WASHROOM

Teach the kids to turn the faucets carefully and slowly especially when warm water is required.

Show the kids with step by step procedure on how to wash and dry their hands so as not to wet the floor.

Regularly check the washroom floor to ensure that it is not wet or slippery. This duty can be assigned to the kids.

The maximum temperature of the warm water should be adjusted to a lower temperature, so as not to burn the little hands

Washrooms should be child-size, where faucets and toilet bowls are reachable. If not, stepping stools should be provided.

Do not allow kids to run in and out of the washrooms. Turning corners can be dangerous.

PRESCHOOL SAFETY FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Ensure the child is adequately dressed. Shorts and long pants are ideal. Avoid frilly skirts, scarves, head bands…etc as these can get caught between gaps in the play structure or fences.

Create a boundary for the children to play within. Usually playgrounds have well defined boundary. On the beach or open field, you can use a stick to draw the boundary or just be watchful that the kids do not wander off.

Have the kids practice their "outdoor voice". Outdoor voice is like yelling, screaming for help. Projecting one's voice from the lungs are good for the kids to learn to use their voice for public speaking, screaming for help, and cheering.

Kids should learn to listen to their own internal radar. If they sense something or someone is not right, it is usually correct. The innate fear or caution that is given to each one should be heeded.

Always ensure that kids are accompanied when they have to leave the playground to go to the washrooms.

Ensure equipment are child-size, strong and sturdy. Do a pre-check.

Instruct the kids to use the equipment one at a time and move away quickly - eg. slides, swings, fire pole…etc

Clear the area of debris, broken branches,

Falling from equipment account for 59 per cent of playground injuries. Ensure kids are strong and agile to climb the apparatus they choose.

On a hot day, apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher and reapply if necessary.

Always have a phone available for emergency calls.

PRESCHOOL SAFETY ON THE ROAD

Taking a group of kids out and having to cross the road may be dangerous. However, this is a great opportunity to teach road safety. So do not avoid it. Here's what you can teach:

Learn and obey all basic traffic signs or pedestrian signals.

Don't walk between cars that are parked along the roadside to get across the road

Don't run across the road, but walk rapidly

Before crossing, look right, look left and then look right again

Balls or sports apparatus should be carried by adults while crossing the road

Choose an outdoor spot away from the road and traffic; even bicycle path

If you intend having music at the park, don't play your music while crossing the road

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SBI!