Many of your everyday health and safety practices prepare you for emergencies and disasters. The practice of looking for and correcting unsafe conditions in your early childhood program will help keep children and staff safe during a disaster. Regular inspections help to find safety threats and create a culture of safety. Routine hazard mapping can identify problems that might affect your response to disasters. Hazard mapping can also help you find likely sources of infection during a disease outbreak.
Tips for keeping your facility safe:
- Check locks and latches at exits and gates
- Make sure exits are marked and the paths to the exits are not blocked with furniture, equipment, supplies, or tripping hazards
- Test your safety equipment to be sure it’s working properly — including smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide alarms — and replace batteries as needed
- Test generators if you have them
- Assess your building and grounds for possible risks
- Make building repairs to improve your facility’s ability to protect building occupants
Read the Natural Disasters and Head Start Facilities guide for more information on facility safety.
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Resource Type: Video
National Centers: Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety
Audience: Directors and Managers
Last Updated: June 13, 2025