Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Injury Prevention logoLink to Injury Prevention
. 1996 Sep;2(3):202–207. doi: 10.1136/ip.2.3.202

A statewide survey of hazards in child care centers.

K S Browning 1, C W Runyan 1, J B Kotch 1
PMCID: PMC1067705  PMID: 9346091

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine adherence to selected recommended safety standards in North Carolina child care centers. METHODS: A self administered questionnaire eliciting information about safety practices in child care was mailed to a randomly selected sample of 409 North Carolina child care centers. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety five usable questionnaires were returned from child care centers in 75 counties. Results indicated that all of the standards included in the state's child regulations were being adhered to by at least 80% of the centers. However, adherence to recommended standards not included in the state's regulations was quite variable, with one standard implemented by less than 5% of the centers. The lowest rates of adherence were found for standards specifying that resilient surface material be used under playground equipment (4%) and that certain foods that may present a choking hazard to small children not be served (27%). CONCLUSIONS: Many hazards not addressed in North Carolina child care regulations are present in child care centers. Some safety standards are not adhered to due to lack of knowledge or limited resources. Inclusion of national standards in state child care regulations appears to reduce, but not eliminate, the likelihood of hazards being reported. Further research should include on-site inspections and attention to safety in family child care.

Full text

PDF
202

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Chang A., Lugg M. M., Nebedum A. Injuries among preschool children enrolled in day-care centers. Pediatrics. 1989 Feb;83(2):272–277. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Kopjar B., Wickizer T. How safe are day care centers? Day care versus home injuries among children in Norway. Pediatrics. 1996 Jan;97(1):43–47. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Landman P. F., Landman G. B. Accidental injuries in children in day-care centers. Am J Dis Child. 1987 Mar;141(3):292–293. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1987.04460030070027. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Lee E. J., Bass C. Survey of accidents in a university day-care center. J Pediatr Health Care. 1990 Jan-Feb;4(1):18–23. doi: 10.1016/0891-5245(90)90035-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Runyan C. W., Gray D. E., Kotch J. B., Kreuter M. W. Analysis of US child care safety regulations. Am J Public Health. 1991 Aug;81(8):981–985. doi: 10.2105/ajph.81.8.981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Sacks J. J., Addiss D. G. The perceived needs of child care center directors in preventing injuries and infectious diseases. Am J Public Health. 1995 Feb;85(2):266–267. doi: 10.2105/ajph.85.2.266. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Sacks J. J., Holt K. W., Holmgreen P., Colwell L. S., Jr, Brown J. M., Jr Playground hazards in Atlanta child care centers. Am J Public Health. 1990 Aug;80(8):986–988. doi: 10.2105/ajph.80.8.986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Sacks J. J., Smith J. D., Kaplan K. M., Lambert D. A., Sattin R. W., Sikes R. K. The epidemiology of injuries in Atlanta day-care centers. JAMA. 1989 Sep 22;262(12):1641–1645. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Sellström E., Bremberg S., Chang A. Injuries in Swedish day-care centers. Pediatrics. 1994 Dec;94(6 Pt 2):1033–1036. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Wasserman R. C., Dameron D. O., Brozicevic M. M., Aronson R. A. Injury hazards in home day care. J Pediatr. 1989 Apr;114(4 Pt 1):591–593. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(89)80700-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Injury Prevention are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES