Original Word Document
7 Categories to Consider when Evaluating a Child-Care Facility
1) Location:
· Proximity to a road where one could smell the exhaust fumes? Increases asthma, and other chronic illnesses.
· Is it in an industrial area downwind of toxic emissions? Is risk worth it?
· Was the property formerly used by industry? Ask for clean-up records.
· On any hazard zones, particularly on a liquefaction or slide area?
· At least 300 ft from high voltage lines. If not, has the electric magnetic field been measured? PG & E often has records. Compare w/ EMF of appliances. Two studies have shown increased children’s brain cancer w/ vicinity to EMF.
2) Indoor Air Quality:
· How does it smell? Musty? Moldy? Stale? Stuffy? Chemicals? Chronic smells is one indicator of poor air quality issues that can impact health. Some women in particular are good at detecting odors, better than instruments!
· Cleaning products & cleaning done in presence of children? Should not be. Are “over-kill” disinfectants being used other than for fecal/blood cleanup? More likely to hurt kids than help with decreasing contagious organisms.
· Are air fresheners of any type used? Are candles lit regularly? Covering up odors with synthetic fragrances and chemicals more likely to increase asthma.
· Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning (HVAC) system checked on a regular basis and working properly? Filters changed regularly, and air exchange rate?
· Do they have a carbon monoxide monitor w/ working batteries in rooms w/ furnaces? (check to see working fire alarms are in individual rooms – fire department checks a preschool usually only upon its first opening. Check to see that exits are not blocked or locked).
· New carpeting, particleboard furniture, or vinyl sturctures emitting volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). People have different degrees of ability to smell the “new car” smell.
· Are art supplies referenced against the Arts & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) hazard list prior to purchase?
· Radon is mostly a problem in the eastern U.S. But if the center is in the basement (below ground level) of a building, has radon levels been checked? This radioactive gas causes cancer & is odorless.
· Do they have a mat outside the doors and also preferably one inside, to decrease tracking in of pollutants?
· Do they have carpet that retain pollutants or impermeable floors that can easily be and should be cleaned at the end of each day?
3) Pesticide Use:
· What pesticides (weed-killers, too) are used indoors or outdoors? Anyone who gets paid for working must be a registered pesticide applicator. No registered pesticides are safe for spraying where children play. There is a risk involved, even with termite pesticides that are sprayed underneath the home.
· Is there an integrated pest management program (IPM) or use of pest preventing procedures and safer alternatives? Do they know alternative, IPM services? See our fact sheet on pesticides.
· Have any wooden play structures been treated with preservatives? Look for greenish hue or notches on wood where CCA was injected into the wood.
- If so, have they been tested for arsenic or creosote levels? Arsenic levels found on surface and leached to ground occur for over 10 years.
- If not being replaced, are they sealed properly at least every 6 months?
4) Food & Drink:
· What type of food is given to the children? Natural or Processed?
· Do they provide hydrogenated, artificial colors, flavors, and preservative containing foods? Do they stock up on Costco snacks: microwave pop-corn, Pepperidge Farms Fish Cheese crakers, Cheeze-It’s, Ritz, Nabisco Saltine Crackers, Keber’s Tebby Bear Cookies to name a few. Margarine is hydrogenated vegetable oil. Hydrogenated fats have been linked to breast cancer. Articifical colors are linked to many other developmental problems such as hyperactivity. Many European countries have banned artificial ingredients.
· Does school or parents provide? If guidelines, are they enforced?
· Juice given or water? If water, is it well, tap, filtered, or bottled? Environmental Working Group study shows that children get most of their pesticide from eating and drinking apple juice, commonly served to them. Consumer’s Reports and the NRDC tested bottled waters and found most to be worse than tap water. Find a water filter that removes as much contaminants.
· Is there a strict hand washing protocol before eating and after using toilets? Is soap & water used or is anti-bacterial products used? Anti-bacterial soaps increase the numbers of resistant bacteria and hurt kids more than decrease infectious diseases. Use regular soap, rubbing action, and water only. Antibacterial gels belong in hospital settings where otherwise staff wouldn’t have time to wash hands or for adults in childcare settings of the same.
5) Toys:
· Are any frequently mouthed toys made in a foreign country and painted with bright colors? Has it been checked for lead?
· Are battery operated toys given to children? If so, are they nickel and cadmium free? Are batteries of same charge placed inside toys together or recharged together to decrease risk of leakage? Make sure rechargeable and regular are not mixed to avoid rupturing.
· Do toys pose choking hazards for kids under 4? Remember that the most dangerous size is the diameter of their pinky finger, the size of their trachea and hard to dislodge.
· Are any toys long and pointed (pencil-like) that could puncture the carotid artery (behind tonsils and when ruptured can be fatal) if they fall with it in their mouth?
· Are children kept at least 18 inches from any computer screens and at least 9 ft from television screens? Are they watching appropriate t.v./video? Should they be watching t.v./video?
· Are any appliance parts or computer parts given to children to play with? Lead and PBDE (flame-retardant linked to many health hazards) danger.
· Does the school have a policy to purchase only Pthalate-free toys, particularly for children under 3? Pthalates are known to be hormone disruptors. Many schools receive donated toys so best to wash those hands before eating.
6) Repairs & Remodeling:
· Is there a plan used prior to doing repairs & renovation?
- Who coordinates repairs and renovation? Who is informed?
- Are repairs and renovations done when school is in session?
· Have the layers of paint in various rooms been tested for lead if built before 1978? What year was the building erected?
· Do the ceiling tiles, floor tiles, roofing, and furnace ducts contain asbestos? Have they been tested if building erected before 1976?
· To test for lead of asbestos, look under yellow pages, lab analytical. Costs are $30-$50. For technician to come out and collect a sample or test, it costs more. Make sure they are Cal-OSHA certified. Don’t let anyone sample for asbestos in the presence of children. Make sure surface is sealed afterwards.
7) Integrity of Childcare Staff:
-Is the Director interested in your concerns and open to learning more?
-Are the teachers open to your questions?
-Do the Owner, Director, and teachers meet regularly and on the same page with health issues? Do the staff follow guidelines developed to protect children?
-Is the turnover of staff low?
We periodically revise this checklist as new and previously unknown info that is applicable surfaces. Please feel free to e-mail Susan JunFish, the author, with your comments. junfish@earthlink.net.
