Young children top the list for the spread of germs and illnesses, as they are still learning proper hygiene techniques. Young children have tendencies to not wash their hands and put things in their mouths that don’t belong there. It is part of the responsibility of a child care service to limit these behaviors and also ensure that their space doesn’t pose any potential hazards to these children.
After all, kids don’t know that you shouldn’t rub your eyes after going to the bathroom, at least not until we teach them. However, it’s up to adults and caregivers to take the proper precautions to keep kids safe, wherever they are.
Keeping Kids Safe From Lead Is Everyone’s Responsibility
Lead is extremely hazardous if ingested, and children under six years old are at the highest risk of lead poisoning. On top of that, a child’s growing body absorbs more lead than that of an adult. Even worse, the effects of lead are much more damaging to a child’s brain and nervous system if ingested and can cause permanent damage.
Common sources of lead poisoning include:
- Eating and drinking from lead-contaminated dishware
- Inhaling lead dust from lead-based paint or lead contaminated soil
- From playing with toys with lead paint
Lead exposure is a contributor to development of intellectual disabilities and affects about 600,000 children each year. Children who have experienced lead poisoning are also seven times more likely to drop out of school, often due to intellectual challenges, and are six times more likely to fall into the juvenile justice system.
How Can Teachers and Childcare Centers Prevent Lead Poisoning?
Homes and buildings built before 1978 have the highest lead risk levels. When it comes to childcare, a provider must take the necessary steps to ensure that the care facility is lead-free. They can do this by scheduling a lead-based paint abatement by a certified lead renovator. All EPA lead certified renovators and inspectors have undergone lead RRP training(renovation, repair, and paint), a professional lead certification training program.
EPA requires lead RRP training for all employees of firms that deal with child-occupied spaces, which also includes schools and hospitals. Those who want or need to renovate these spaces are required to hire a Lead-Safe Certified firm to prevent disruption of any lead paint.
If your construction or renovation firm is not Lead-Safe Certified, you are unable to conduct business in these child-occupied facilities. For proper lead training, refreshers, or other EPA and OSHA-compliance training, contact ZOTA Professional Training today to enroll in our flexible online certification programs.
