049-4 Wyo. Code R. §§ 4-14 - Health and Safety Requirements

(a) Children shall be present only in areas of the facility approved and inspected for child care and designated for their use.

(b) Rooms not designated and approved for child care shall be made inaccessible to children with the exception of rooms used as an evacuation route or shelter.

(c) The overall condition of the child care facility and grounds, including play areas, equipment, and toys, shall be maintained in a clean, uncluttered, safe condition and free of hazards.

(d) All rooms used by children shall be adequately heated, cooled, illuminated, and ventilated.

(e) If infant care is included in the same building as a facility caring for children of other ages, infants shall be provided with a designated and safe play area.

(f) Toys shall be suitable for age and development.

(g) Awake infants or toddlers shall not be confined to a crib, playpen/play yard, swing, high chair, car seat, carrier, or in one (1) position for excessive periods of time.

(h) A sufficient supply of clean, dry diapers shall be available, and diapers shall be changed as frequently as needed. Diaper changing shall be documented for each infant and available to the parent.

(i) Decks, porches, steps, stairs and walkways shall be maintained in good repair and safe condition. Stairs, decks and elevated porches shall have sturdy railings, guard rails, and child safety gates when non-walking children are present.

(j) Children shall not have access to cords or ropes, including but not limited to, window treatment cords or electrical cords.

(k) Spaces that could entrap children, including but not limited to, openings in guardrails or banisters, shall measure three and a half (3.5) inches or less, or more than nine (9) inches to prevent entrapment.

(l) Potentially dangerous or unsafe items shall be made inaccessible to children.

(m) Electrical outlets shall be tamper resistant or covered with safety caps when not in use.

(n) Any item which may present a burn hazard including heating units and appliances, shall be made inaccessible to children unless its use is for an activity directly supervised by an adult.

(o) Electric fans shall be out of the reach of children or shall be fitted with an appropriate mesh to prevent access to the blades by children.

(p) Chemicals shall not be used around children and in a manner that contaminates surfaces such as tables, carpets, lawns, food, or food preparation areas.

(q) Weapons/Firearms. The facility shall develop, adopt, follow and maintain on file, written policies and procedures governing the safe management of firearms and weapons.

(i) The facility shall prohibit firearms or other weapons on the grounds of the facility or program or in any building used by children, except by law enforcement personnel in emergency and non-emergency situations, and as provided in (ii) below;

(ii) In Family Child Care Homes and Family Child Care Centers located in the owner's home, firearms and ammunition shall be stored and locked separately from each other in an area that is inaccessible to children. Reloading rooms shall be locked and inaccessible to children. Family Child Care Homes not located in the owner's home and Child Care Centers shall not have firearms and ammunition on the premises; and

(iii) No explosives of any type shall be allowed.

(r) Any animal with a history of attacking even one (1) person or demonstrating aggressive behavior, shall be made inaccessible to the children in care.

(s) Media, including but not limited to, movies and internet sites that are rated higher than PG shall not be accessible to children during child care hours.

(t) Staff and household members shall not consume or be under the influence of any substance that may impair their ability to care for children, including, alcohol, certain prescription drugs or illegal drugs; or misuse prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs, on or off the premises, while child care children are present, and while transporting child care children. The use of tobacco, tobacco products or electronic cigarettes is prohibited in the facility or off premises when children are present and in care.

(u) An operable phone shall be available in the facility at all times and emergency phone numbers to include 911, poison control, an adult emergency substitute, as well as the address and phone number of the facility shall be posted by the telephone or in a location that is immediately visible at all times.

(v) Emergency preparedness guidelines shall be written, available, followed and include:

(i) Plans for evacuation, shelter-in-place, lockdown of the facility, reunification and procedures for responding to each type of emergency likely in the area;

(ii) Plans for children with special needs as soon as they are enrolled in the program;

(iii) That children's emergency contact phone numbers and attendance records shall be taken outside during all emergency evacuation and drills;

(iv) That drills shall include practice from all exit locations, at varied times of the day, and during varied activities; and

(v) That fire safety and emergency evacuation diagrams (floor plans) shall be posted.

(vi) Plans for continuity of operations; and

(vii) Plans for accommodations for infants and toddlers.

(w) All equipment and products used in child care facilities shall be used per manufacturer instructions. Recalled equipment and products shall be removed from the child care facility.

(x) Wet or soiled clothing, including disposable undergarments, shall be changed promptly. A sufficient supply of clean clothing shall be provided.

(y) Children shall be provided opportunity for, but shall not be required, to sleep and children shall have their own separate cots, pads, and bedding; and

(i) Cots or pads shall be spaced at least two (2) feet apart on all sides. The bedding shall be washed once a week or more often as needed.

(ii) For overnight care, children shall have a separate cot or non-inflatable bed on which to sleep.

(z) Toys, phones, doorknobs, door casings, handles and railings shall be cleaned and sanitized once a week or whenever visibly soiled. Table tops, high chairs or food serving surfaces be sanitized before and after each use.

(aa) Staff shall wash their hands:

(i) After using the toilet or helping a child use a toilet, diaper changing, handling bodily fluid, handling pets, cleaning or handling the garbage, or handling food (The kitchen sink shall not be used for hand washing after diaper changing); and

(ii) Before diaper changing, handling food, eating, and giving medication.

(bb) Children shall wash their hands:

(i) Before and after eating; and

(ii) After using the toilet, handling pets, and/or playing in sandboxes.

(cc) A sturdy stool shall be available to children as needed to make hand washing sinks accessible.

(dd) Soap and single service hand towels shall be available at all hand washing sinks.

(ee) Dirty laundry shall not be accessible to children.

(ff) All child care facilities shall have at least a basic first-aid kit or its equivalent on hand at all times. The first aid kit shall be taken on field trips and outings.

Notes

049-4 Wyo. Code R. §§ 4-14

Adopted, Eff. 10/7/2016. Amended, Eff. 3/24/2020. Amended, Eff. 2/2/2022.