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Jul 28, 2008 7:37 pm US/Central
Daycares Work To Keep Kids Safe During Heat Wave
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Keeping young children safe is especially critical during a heat wave.
Landauer Child Development Center in East Dallas is taking steps to limit children's exposure to heat and making sure employees account for each child. Those are just a few of the critical needs that need to be met daily.
Employees say they are assessing children's physical condition when they are outside. They're using water not only to keep the kids hydrated, but also to have fun. They are also continually counting kids.
All are critical steps in child care safety in these sizzling summer months.
"We count the children before we leave the building. We count the children before we get on the bus. We count the children on the bus. We count the children when we exit the bus," said Phyllis Smoots, Landauer Child Care.
With the anguish and horror of child car death cases, The Child Care Group of Dallas, which owns Landauer Child Development Center, has a daily process for the 1,400 children under their care.
Check lists are mandatory. Head counts are repetitive. There is a strict rule of no outside activity after 11 a.m. if heat or air quality advisories are issued.
"We stress with our teachers they must follow those procedures every time, and we practice them, follow them repeatedly," said Susan Hoff, Child Care Group. "That's a good check and balance system."
Sonia Barbus and Tonya Bray oversee 20 children at Landauer Child Care. The outdoor play lasted 20 minutes on Monday. Before they headed inside, Barbus and Bray counted the children in their care twice.
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