Inside the JSPHEC e-Newsletter for January 2016
Health and Safety Coordinator Network!
- Fire safety for the hearing impaired
- Influenza (flu) update
- JSPHEC services for child care settings
Health and Safety Coordinator Network!
January 19th at 9:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) is the kickoff for the first Health and Safety Coordinators Network call sponsored by JSPHEC. I sensed a need for this when I attended the Region 8 Head Start Association annual conference in October. There just didn’t seem to be a lot of resources available for those of us working to assure that children and staff in our programs are healthy and safe. The purpose of the network is to provide monthly opportunities where health and safety coordinators can ask questions, share ideas, and encourage each other in a friendly and safe environment—peer to peer! Email me at jeff@jeffstollconsulting.com if you would like more information or wish to participate and I will send you the dial-in information.
Fire Safety for the Hearing Impaired
I was recently consulting for an early childhood education center during a health and safety assessment. One of the classrooms had a few children enrolled who were hearing impaired. The question was asked, “Are there any requirements for special fire or smoke alarms for the classroom?” The answer could differ depending on where your center is located and what type of center you are operating. There are several regulatory schemes that could come into play. There are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. ADA requirements apply to any public facility whereas NFPA standards may be in place if they’ve been adopted in local or state ordinances, codes or regulations. Regardless of the regulatory environment of your community, in general, it is best to accommodate the special needs of our students in our classrooms. Fortunately, it is not expensive to adapt classrooms or any space to provide smoke or fire alarms that can be detected by the hearing impaired. According to a handy brochure provided by the NFPA, smoke alarms with built in or separate strobe lights can be purchased through home improvement store websites or by searching the internet for “strobe light smoke alarms.” I found many on Amazon.com for less than $100 and some as low as $52! (Click here for my search results). Please contact me for more information specific to your situation at 720-376-8591 or jeff@jeffstollconsulting.com.
Influenza (Flu) Update
According to CDC’s Influenza Weekly Situation Update for the week ending December 26, 2015, the flu activity increased slightly in the United States. The map shows the areas where it is most active in yellow, orange and dark gray. You can click on the map and download it for easier viewing. The good news is that the vast majority of flu viruses are compatible with the current flu vaccine. Epidemiologists and pharmacists have to predict which viruses are going to be most prevalent and then the vaccine is designed to be effective for those specific viruses. This means that you can be well protected with the available flu vaccine. CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. If you have not gotten vaccinated yet this season, you should get vaccinated now. If you work with infants especially, it is important to encourage staff and older children to be immunized. The only way to protect infants is to make sure that those around them do not have the flu!
JSPHEC Services for Child Care Settings
JSPHEC provides health and safety consultation services to early education programs and child care centers or homes. I use 94 standards or check points to assess health and safety of these settings. These check points are taken from federal and state standards as well as thirty years of public health experience. My services for child care centers and homes include the following:
- Health and Safety Assessment and Improvement Planning – This service provides a thorough observation and evaluation of all spaces within a child care setting including fire safety, kitchen, playground, and classrooms. Based on the assessment a report of issues is provided with recommendations for improvement.
- Health and Safety Coordination – JSPHEC can monitor health and safety of your center through regular walk-throughs using a 94-point Health and Safety Checklist, coordinate necessary improvements, and provide 24/7 consultation for day-to-day questions and concerns.
- Health and Safety Program Assessment and Development – JSPHEC can assess the thoroughness and effectiveness of the health and safety monitoring system in a child care setting and/or develop an effective system of assuring health and safety.
- Health and Safety Training – JSPHEC can provide training on a broad range of topics and issues for the benefit of staff, children or families.
Contact Jeff Stoll at 720-376-8591 or jeff@jeffstollconsulting.com for more information on these services and rates.
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