Safety and Security

A center's crisis resources may include which of the following?

*a. Communication plans *b. Facility provisions *c. Accessible local emergency services d. Nearby social services organizations

Which of the following items should be considered when formulating a contingency plan?

*a. Crisis kits b. Contracts *c. Evacuation plans *d. Crisis communication system

Which of the following are recommended media that child care centers can use when disseminating information about safety and security policies and procedures?

*a. The Internet b. Billboards *c. Form letters *d. Annual reports

Door Alert Systems

A door alert security system consists of an unlocked main entrance equipped with a bell, buzzer, or alerting device that sounds when the door opens.

A thorough risk assessment should be performed to identify security issues.

A risk assessment can provide important information concerning security measures a center should consider implementing.

Every facility is unique, and each faces different security challenges.

Although it is impossible to envision and protect against every potential danger, child care providers must do their best to ensure that children they care for will be safe and secure while in their care.

Recommended media for child care centers to use when disseminating information about safety and security procedures includes which of the following?

Annual reports

According to the Department of Homeland Security, child care centers should follow guidelines, warnings, and directives issued by ______ in the event of a threat.

local government and police agencies

Which of the following colors is used by the Homeland Security Advisory System to indicate a SEVERE threat level?

red

Using the color-coded system:

red indicates a severe threat, orange indicates a high threat, yellow indicates an elevated threat, blue indicates a guarded threat, green indicates a low threat.

In partially restricted systems, the main entrance may remain ______ while other doors remain ______.

unlocked, locked

Which of the following are techniques to remember when discussing safety and security policies and procedures?

*a. Be straightforward b. Always use the same method of getting information out c. Do not give parents too much information *d. Keep lines of communication open

Keep the Lines of Communication Open

Ask parents questions about their safety and security concerns and encourage them to ask questions as well.

Be Straightforward

Be straightforward and realistic. Emergency situations can happen anywhere. Child care providers cannot guarantee that an emergency situation will never occur while children are in their care.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, child care centers should follow ______ in the event of a threat.

guidelines, warnings, and directives issued by local government and police agencies

Create evacuation, alternative shelter, and temporary lockdown plans. Be ready to put any combination of plans into effect.

Certain emergencies will demand a simultaneous evacuation of one area within the child care center and lockdown (i.e. sheltering in place) of another.

Use a Variety of Media

Child care center's have a variety of media available when disseminating safety and security policies and procedures. The Internet is a useful tool for disseminating information. Numerous Web sites are available to keep parents informed about safety and security issues. The center's safety and security policies, a phone tree, parts of the contingency plan, and the center director's e-mail address can be placed on a center specific site, along with a forum for questions. Links to the Department of Homeland Security and other applicable Web sites can also be added to provide parents with more information.

Child care centers should maintain a working relationship with local police and fire departments. These relationships will help reduce the risk of loss of life and/or property.

Child care providers who follow local and national warnings, comply with government recommended guidelines, and maintain a working relationship with local officials are better prepared to protect children during a national security alert.

Who is responsible for ensuring that parents are aware of, and fully understand, a child care facility's safety and security procedures?

Child care staff

Designate staff members' roles and responsibilities, including monitoring bathrooms, hallways, and parking lots.

Clear-cut duties should be assigned in case of emergency. Keep a list of assigned roles and who to notify during a crisis.

Create a list of provisions, including food, water, backup power supplies, materials for boarding up doors and windows, and medical and first aid supplies.

Compile crisis kits for each classroom.Crisis kits should include: Water Food First aid supplies Clothing and bedding Emergency supplies Sanitation items Special items for medical conditions Baby items

Which of the following items should be considered when formulating a contingency plan?

Crisis kit

Communication during a crisis is vital.

Do not count on using telephones and/or cell phones as they may not be operational during an emergency. Be sure that the child care center has alternate methods of contacting fire and police departments for help.

Which of the following questions should a child care provider ask to effectively determine its center's security needs?

Does the center have emergency plans that address fires, natural disasters, intruders, and medical emergencies?

Because they provide the foundation for other security measures, safety policies and procedures are a critical part of any security plan.

Due to the cooperation and communication a security plan requires, however, policies and procedures may be the most difficult elements to implement.

Some electronically restricted access systems may require child care providers and visitors to be buzzed into the child care facility after they have identified themselves.

Electronic security systems may be as basic as a doorbell or as complex as a hardwired and monitored security system.

Which type of security system is designed to stop unauthorized people from gaining entry into a facility by locking all doors from the inside?

Electronically restricted

Common types of security systems include:

Electronically restricted access Partially restricted Surveillance Door alert Separated main entrance

Electronically Restricted Access Systems

Electronically restricted access systems are designed to stop unauthorized people from gaining entry into a facility. In a center with electronically restricted access, all the doors are locked from the inside. Prior to gaining entry into the child care facility, providers may be required to enter a password or code on a keypad to identify themselves.

The importance of contingency planning for emergencies should not be overlooked when running a child care center.

Events like terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and fires illustrate a need to be prepared for anything. Although dwelling on the chance of an emergency may scare a child care center's employees and parents, it is essential to be ready in the event that something does happen.

For existing structures, find creative ways to take full advantage of the protection provided by the building's architecture.

For example, moving the director's office to the front of the building may maximize the children's protection, as well as allowing the director to oversee who is coming and going.

Additional guidelines include:

If a city or building(s) increases to SEVERE or RED level, and a decision is made to close the building(s) but those employees designated as essential are to remain, then the child care center should be notified and given a specific amount of time to notify parents and close down their operation. If a city or building(s) increases to SEVERE or RED level, and a decision is made NOT to close the building(s) where a child care center is located, then the child care center should be notified, and the center staff can decide whether or not to remain open.

When determining a center's security needs, child care providers should consider questions similar to those a concerned parent might ask:

How does the center ensure that a child will not be released to an unauthorized party? How does the center prevent unauthorized people from entering the facility? Does the center have emergency plans that address fires, natural disasters, intruders, and medical emergencies? Where will the children be taken following an evacuation? How will the center contact parents if there is an emergency?

What important question should be asked before incorporating technology into a child care center's security plan?

How will it be maintained, repaired, and upgraded?

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Protective Service set guidelines for child care centers when under a severe threat level:

If a city or building(s) increases to SEVERE or RED level, and a decision is made to close the building(s) where a child care center is located, then the child care center should be notified that the building is closing and given a certain amount of time to notify parents and close down the operation.

Address Fears

If parents are concerned by new security procedures, address their fears immediately.

The location of a child care center will determine its security needs.

If the center is located in an inner city, it will have different security needs than a center in a suburban or rural area. It is important to keep in mind that even child care centers in "safe neighborhoods" will be faced with security issues.

Form letters containing safety and security information can be used to inform parents of center updates. These letters can be inserted into weekly/monthly billing statements.

If the child care center provides its customers with annual reports, safety and security information can also be addressed in that forum.

Practice the evacuation plan.

If the child care facility is located in a shared office space, coordinate and practice evacuation and emergency plans with other businesses in the building.

A partially restricted system requires all employees to access the facility through the main entrance.

In some cases, the manager's office will be close to the main entrance so that he/she can see who comes and goes.

Electronic Surveillance Systems

Many centers may consider employing electronic surveillance systems like surveillance cameras and closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems. These surveillance systems would allow child care providers to view many areas of the center from one central location but would require constant monitoring by response-trained personnel.

Perform an assessment of the center's crisis resources. These resources may include:

On-site health and medical facilities Accessible local emergency services Communication plans Facility provisions

Provide Parents with Information

Parents are concerned about their children's safety. Providing them with safety policy and procedures will help ease their fears.

f the child care center starts locking doors and requiring parents to show identification upon entering, parental concerns may arise.

Parents may feel pushed out of their children's lives. In this case, child care providers must stress the importance of enhanced safety and security procedures while assuring parents that they are still wanted/needed at the center.

Partially Restricted Systems

Partially restricted systems are also designed to prevent members of the general public from gaining entry into a facility. These systems are not as inhibiting as electronically restricted access systems. In partially restricted systems, the main entrance may remain unlocked while all other doors remain locked to stop unauthorized entries.

A thorough risk assessment should be done to identify specific security issues. A risk assessment can provide information about security measures a center should consider implementing. In addition to risk assessment results, security measures should incorporate four basic elements:

Physical characteristics of the building Available security technology Safety and security procedures Center location

n addition to the results of a risk assessment, security measures should incorporate four basic elements:

Physical characteristics of the building Available security technology Safety policies and procedures Center's location

To begin formulating a contingency plan, identify potential emergencies. Emergencies may include:

Protests, picket lines, and riots Bomb threats Unapproved visitors Hostage situations Sniper assaults Gang-related incidents Kidnapping Accidental death/injury Chemical spills Fires Natural disasters

Consider using the following techniques when discussing safety and security policies and procedures:

Provide parents with information, such as handouts and brochures Use a variety of media Be straightforward Keep the lines of communication open Gain trust Address fears

Before the events of September 11, 2001, child care providers had no reason to worry about terrorist attacks.

Since that fateful day, procedures have been put in place to protect America's children in the event of a disaster.

Landscaping can become part of a child care center's security plan.

Strategic placement of plants or decorative bushes can provide security by obscuring the view into the center from outside. However, large bushes or trees that block the outside view from inside the center should be avoided.

According to the Department of Homeland Security child care centers should first follow guidelines, warnings, and directives issued by local government and police agencies in the event of a threat.

The Homeland Security Advisory System is a color-coded threat level system activated to communicate protective measures that public safety officials and the general public can use to reduce the likelihood or impact of an attack.

A safety program should be developed among child care providers, parents, and law enforcement personnel.

The plans should be reviewed, updated, and made available to parents as well as staff members.

Separated Main Entrance Systems

The separated main entrance system is an architectural feature. This system may be used in conjunction with other security systems, or it may be used on its own. In this type of system, the facility's main entrance is disconnected from doors to the center's individual classrooms. This is done to stop unauthorized people from gaining direct entry into a classroom from outside the building.

Which type of security system alerts child care providers when someone enters or exits the building; but access to the facility is NOT controlled?

door alert

Information about safety and security procedures can be discussed in one-on-one or group parent/provider meetings.

These meetings are good forums where parents can voice concerns and have any questions answered.

The use of technology, such as metal detectors, access control systems, and closed-circuit television (CCTV), should also be considered, as these items are becoming increasingly effective and economical.

Use technology wisely. Before incorporating any technology into a security plan, identify why it is needed, what it will be used for, and how it will be maintained, repaired, and upgraded.

Gain trust

Work to earn parents' trust by being knowledgeable about safety and security procedures and answering any questions. Be consistent with carrying out procedures in the event of an emergency. This will also help to gain parents' trust.

Which of the following are basic elements that should be incorporated into a child care center's security measures?

a. Distance from a military base b. Employee numbers and placement *c. The center's location and physical characteristics *d. Safety policies and procedures

Which of the following are types of security systems that child care providers might consider for their facility?

a. Guard dogs *b. Electronically restricted access systems *c. Surveillance systems *d. Door alert systems

Which of the following questions should a child care provider ask to effectively determine its center's security needs?

a. Should a child care provider make clients sign a formal, written contract? *b. Where will the children be taken following an evacuation? *c. How does the center prevent unauthorized people from entering the facility? *d. Does the center have emergency plans that address fires, natural disasters, intruders, and medical emergencies?

The Homeland Security Advisory System will be used when the threat level is red or at severe status,

and the federal government must take precautionary measures such as closing specific buildings and evacuating districts.

As part of contingency planning, a safety program should be developed among which of the following?

child care providers, parents, and law enforcement personnel