Opening An In Home Daycare? 3 Fire Safety Tips You Need To Know
According to Baby Center, there are three times as many in home daycare providers than there are licensed childcare centers. While licensing requirements can differ from state to state, these in home daycare operations have to ensure the safety of the children in their care, which includes keeping them safe from fires. If you are opening a daycare in your home, here are a few important things to consider that can help.
Install A Fire Alarm System
Of course, the first thing you need to do is to contact your local licensing authority to determine what changes, if any, will need to be done to your home in order for you to be able to obtain a license to have an in home day care. At the very least, you will be required to have smoke detectors installed in the home, particularly in the areas where children will be cared for. However, parents will often look for child care providers who go above and beyond when it comes to safety issues with the children they entrust in their care. Therefore, regardless of whether or not a fire alarm system is a requirement, have one installed.
Create a New Exterior Door Opening
One huge safety concern when it comes to fires is not having the ability to quickly get outside when there is a fire or when the fire alarm sounds. For example, if the primary room or area used for your daycare does not have an exterior door, would you need to usher the children through the house to reach an exterior door in care of a fire? What if the fire is in the kitchen and the kitchen is the only escape route to an exterior door? Contact a structural engineer to determine where you can install a new exterior door for your daycare. You can either use this door or keep it locked and set to unlock with the signal of the fire alarm system.
Practice with Fire Drills
Ask the fire alarm system installation service to show you how you can set the system for fire drills. That way, you and the children in your care can practice escaping a fire. This can be done on a regular basis to make sure the children understand what to do and what not to do when they hear the fire alarm. When you advertise, you can include that you practice fire drills regularly in the information you provide, as well as the features of the fire alarm system you have installed.