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White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group, Kansas City, MO, USA

Questions to Ask Regarding Safety and Security while Doing a Renovation or New Construction

Just how safe and secure is your childcare facility? The time to address this crucial question is before construction or while renovation plans are still on the board. Read on for a list of questions you can ask to ensure the design of your facility will lead to a safe, secure environment for children, teachers and families.

The environmental design of a childcare center should support the physical, social and psychological needs of the occupants. A safe childcare center is an inviting place whether occupants are consciously aware of the safety features. There is a comfort level people experience when safety is an integral part of our surroundings. Safety is also of great importance to parents, who often express their concerns about any perceived threats to their children's wellbeing.

A formal safety assessment should take into account a variety of factors, including: the center location, community variables, the population and ages of the children served and the needs and problems as identified by local codes, state regulations and occupants. When planning new or renovated designs, start by asking a variety of occupants to comment on safety aspects with building renovations. You can also use the questions below to help you better create a space that is safer for children, teachers and families.

1. Can you see approaching threats?
2. Where are windows located and at what height? Who normally has a view out those windows - staff or children? Visual obstacles, such as support posts, frequently go unnoticed until too late. If electronic surveillance is used, who will be watching the monitors?
3. Will the office serve as a guardian for the entire building?
4. Is the main office adjacent to the front door? If the office faces the door from across the hall, will people entering the building be backlit and harder to identify? Pay close attention to the walls surrounding the reception area. Are there solid wall sections that could use some windows? If windows are in place, are they transparent or do they use architectural glass? Are there objects outside the window that unnecessarily block the receptionist's view?
5. Can a threatening person be kept from entering the childcare center?
6. How difficult is it to lock all exterior doors? How will you know if they are open, closed, locked or unlocked? Who would lock those doors and how? Who are the first people likely to see threats on each side of the building? How would they arrange lockdowns? Are secondary entries protected? A receptionist should be able to lock doors electronically rather than having to broadcast a lockdown, hurdle the front desk, run outside, fend off the intruder, extract the right key and lock the door.
7. Does the interior design protect against threats?
8. How difficult is it to lock down classrooms? Can teachers do so from inside classrooms or must they step into hallways? Is the door to the hallway the only escape option? Can a back door or window serve as an emergency exit? Are phones available in all classrooms?
9. Does the building design direct deliveries to the right doors?
10. How many entries are there? Where should signs be installed and how should they read? Is the main entry the most convenient and apparent entry point for visitors approaching from the parking lot?
11. Does the design enhance connectivity between the childcare center, parents, children and the community?
12. Can wings be opened independently for pre-school or after-hours events? Is there a community bulletin board?
13. Is there adequate lighting in all parts of your property?
14. Do the outdoor play areas have adequate lights? Even though the yards might not be used after hours, additional lighting will deter vandalism in some areas.
15. Are the parking lots lit brightly enough so that staff and parents feel comfortable alone in the parking lot?
16. How is your outdoor border defined on the property?
17. Do you limit the number of entrances and exits to your parking lot? Do you have traffic calmers such as speed bumps? Do you define your walkways with low bushes and shorter trees for easier observation of who is coming and going into the building? Do your parking lots clearly define pedestrian areas with curbs, sidewalks and raised or striped walkways?

These simple questions can guide your group in putting together the best recommendations for safety in your center's design.

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