Facility Safety…
While designing our facility, there were many things to consider...
Our primary goal was to build a facility that was SAFE for YOUR child.
Some examples of the attention we devoted to YOUR child’s safety are:
- All electrical power outlets that are within YOUR child’s reach are GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupted). This means that should an electrical shock accident ever occur, YOU can feel safe in knowing that this type of power outlet will instantly break the power supply, thereby preventing serious injury or death. Additionally, unused outlets are always plugged with a child proof non-conductive outlet plug. We installed only the bare minimum of outlets, while building our facility, to reduce the opportunity for a shock hazard.
- All classrooms were designed with easily opened fire escape windows, to the outside. This provides a secondary escape passage to every room. And all of our doors, windows and walls are “fire rated” meaning they meet federal standards of being fire resistant. Our main corridor is fire-rated.
- Smoke detection devices exist in all heating and air conditioning ducts, as well as in each separate room of our facility. Any excess heat or smoke that is detected in the duct work, automatically triggers a damper, shutting down the forced air flow, and alarms are triggered, which immediately notify ADT Security Systems, who in turn immediately route the emergency call to Pelham Fire Department.
- We have exceeded the Pelham Fire Marshall’s minimum requirement for fire extinguishers. Each fire extinguisher is rated for all types of fires, and are located prominently throughout our building.
- All equipment rooms and closets are equipped with locks and cannot be opened by anyone, without a key. The owners and the director keep the only keys. Additionally, all such access doors automatically lock when closed again. This feature gives you assurance that such places cannot be inadvertently left unlocked.
- All of our classrooms are easily viewed from our main corridor. Every room has fire resistant, wire guard glass observation windows, along their corridor walls. These windows cannot be easily broken. Additionally, these observation windows allow easy viewing into each room. Not only can the owners, director and parents observe the activity within each room, but also the teachers can, from their classrooms across the corridor.
- We designed our facility with a fresh air system. It works excellently at keeping airborne germs from lingering, keeping YOUR child’s exposure to such germs to a minimum. This system runs at all times during hours of occupation.
- Our playground is covered with 6 inches of pea gravel. Many day care facilities use shredded bark or other materials, as the ground cover for their playgrounds. At Creative Stages, we believe that such materials are less than desirable, for a number of reasons. Primarily, if a child falls in pea gravel, at least 4 inches thick, the rounded surfaces act as a shock absorber, transferring the force of impact to the rounded surfaces of all adjacent pebbles. Cuts and breaks are drastically minimized, by using pea gravel. Pea gravel is cleaner and doesn't host insects. Another feature making pea gravel the ideal ground cover… we haven’t heard of anyone getting a splinter from pea gravel. Our employees are instructed to remain watchful of children playing on our playground. Rock throwing is not tolerated and can earn a timeout for any violators.
- Access to our facility is controlled. Entry to our building can only be achieved when one of our staff identifies the entrant, and unlocks the door, from a remote location near the door. Video monitoring aids in our staff being able to remotely observe who is seeking access. The gates to our playground are locked and the keys are only in the possession of the owners and the director. Entrants must sign in at the table in our entrance foyer. This is a requirement of both Creative Stages and Alabama’s Department of Human Resources.
- We selected a location that is not only very near our superior Pelham Police Department, but also a mere city block away from one of Pelham’s superior Fire Stations; Station No.2, located at 2298 Pelham Parkway. This allows YOU to feel comfortable, that YOUR child will receive very quick emergency responses for police, fire or paramedic situations, should such an unfortunate and unlikely situation arise. We are very well known to Pelham’s entire Police and Fire departments, and they are stellar at keeping watchful eyes on our facility and on YOUR child.
- Neither smoking nor the consumption of alcoholic beverages are allowed at Creative Stages. This includes the outside grounds, as well as inside the building. In addition, no employee is allowed to consume, or report to work after having consumed alcoholic beverages or medications that may impair their ability to care for YOUR child. Law in the Great State of Alabama mandates these, and we strictly enforce them. Violation of these laws is not only grounds for immediate termination of employment, but may subject the offender to fines and/or time in jail. Please be aware that these laws apply not only to employees of a day care facility, but also to its patrons, vendors or visitors as well.
- Sanitation and cleanliness are important at Creative Stages. The floors in our kitchen, lunchroom and restrooms are covered with linoleum. These floors are mopped with germ killing agents, every day… and throughout the day, as need arises. Spillage is not allowed to remain any longer than necessary. The floors in our corridor and classrooms are covered with a grade of carpet, that lends itself to easy cleaning, and they are routinely cleaned, by means of “sanitary extraction”. Infant crib linens are laundered daily. Each child has his/her own assigned crib. Cot linens for older children are laundered weekly. Personal blanks, pillows, ect. are sent home weekly with the child for laundering at home.
- We strive to employee the very best childcare professionals, at Creative Stages. All applicants must exhibit an attitude of “caring”. Anyone can keep a child, but such persons are not good enough for Creative Stages. If we feel that any one of our employees is not providing the level of “care” that our owners would want for their own children, we terminate their employment with us. Our expectations of our employees are made well known to them, at the time of their employment, and are reiterated during their new employee orientation and training. We, to ensure they are providing the level of care we expect from them, continually monitor all employees. All employees go through ABI & FBI background checks. They are subject to random, on site drug testing (not a requirement of DHR standards). All employees receive off-site training on a regular basis.
The Great State of Alabama’s Department Of Human Resources (DHR) has very strict rules and regulations for child care centers, their owners, directors and staff. DHR summarizes these rules and standards in a published document called their Minimum Standards for Day Care Centers and Nighttime Centers.
We would like you to know this…
At Creative Stages, it is vitally important to us, that we not only meet DHR’s minimum standards, but also EXCEED them! You can learn more about what Alabama’s DHR minimally requires, by visiting their web site. Go there by clicking here, or on their logo above. You must have Acrobat Reader® (version 4.0 or higher) installed on your computer, in order to view this excellent guide. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, a copy can be downloaded, FREE, to your computer, by clicking on the Adobe logo below.
Many other valuable resources, links and information can also be found on DHR’s web pages. We encourage you to visit DHR online. Go there by clicking here, or on their logo above.
All these considerations exist, so that the place where you have chosen YOUR CHILD to
“Be Cared For… Not Just Kept”, is truly the very best choice YOU can make when
selecting a day care for YOUR child!
~ A place where your child is cared for….
…not just kept ~
Creative Stages Child Care Inc.
