Use this checklist to gather information after a major disaster. This can inform your recovery efforts so you can make sure that the facility is safe for the return of the children in your care.
Suggestions for Use
- Download the checklist.
- Answer each question with a "yes," "no," or "N/A" (not applicable) response.
- A "no" answer may identify issues you need to resolve to serve children safely. For these items, make notes of your next steps.
Questions
1. Is the building, including the roof and foundation, free of visible signs of structural damage?
2. Do you have electricity?
3. Has your facility been inspected for electrical damage or electric shock hazards?
4. If your facility uses gas, is it functional?
5. Has the facility been inspected to ensure there are no gas leaks?
6. Is the HVAC system functional?
7. If you are using a generator, is it properly ventilated?
8. Are smoke and carbon monoxide detectors present and functioning?
9a. Do you have access to a source of safe drinking water?
9b. If you use a cistern for water storage, has the water been tested to make sure it is safe to drink?
10. Do you have water for handwashing, cleaning, cooking, and other essential activities to operate the facility safely?
11. Do you have working toilets?
12. Are the floors free of slip, trip, and fall hazards?
13. Do you have a way to keep pests or vectors (animals and insects that transmit disease to humans such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) out of your facility?
14. Are the following areas free from water intrusion: carpet/carpet padding; floors; ceiling; walls; furniture; appliances; equipment?
15. Are all visible surfaces free from mold growth?
16. Are floors free of any signs of damage, (e.g., shifting, buckling, cracks)?
17. Have you cleaned and inspected porous objects (e.g., wood, paper, bedding, books) to make sure they do not harbor contaminants that pose a danger to children?
18. Have you had the indoor air tested to be sure that contaminant levels are safe for children birth through age 5?
19. Have you had the playground soil tested to be sure that contaminant levels are safe for children under the age of age 5?
20. Have you inspected the playground to make sure there are no trip hazards, hazardous debris, or other hazardous objects on or hanging over the playground or any other outdoor area?
21. Have you inspected your playground equipment to ensure that children do not have access to any unsafe equipment?
22. Have you inspected outdoor fencing to make sure it is intact and secure, so children cannot access an unsafe area or leave the facility?
Last Updated: September 30, 2022