The Redwoods Group

The Redwoods Group Insurance Program for YMCAs
Risk Management Alert

Topic: Childcare Van & Bus Safety Checks

Several instances of children being left in YMCA childcare vans have been reported by the media during the last few months. Not only can such abandonment traumatize the child when s/he awakes but serious injuries and death can result from the temperature extremes, either hot or cold, that may be experienced. A little over a year ago one mid-America city had 2 deaths on the same day from children being left in childcare vans (neither were YMCAs). In the winter the temperature in the van can rapidly drop to match that of the outside. In the summer, the temperature may quickly rise not only to match but also often to exceed the outside temperature. 120^o F is easily possible even on a moderately warm day if the van is completely closed and left in the direct sun.

Your YMCA should establish policies and procedures that include fail-safe provisions to ensure no child is ever left in a vehicle. While the driver or van attendant is normally who is responsible for removing the children and verifying that the van is empty after the destination is reached, accounting for the children is the responsibility of every staff member.

Some items to consider when establishing the policy:

Procedures should be consistent from season to season, facility to facility

Know both who and how many children are in the vehicle...

a visual face check and count is good
a written checklist is better (and also provides documentation of the activity)

Do not solely rely on a count or even a checklist. Once those procedures have been satisfied, the driver or van attendant should physically and systematically check the vehicle to ensure that there are no children in it. For a larger vehicle like a bus, mini-bus, or even a 15-passenger van, an alarm that requires the attendant to go to the inside rear of the vehicle to shut it off is a good reminder. Remember, however, that the alarm is just a reminder; it is the search that is critical.

start at the rear of the vehicle
check both in the seats and under the seats
remove all bags, blankets, coats, etc. to ensure that no one is concealed by them
close and lock the vehicle when complete

A verification check of the vehicle should be made within the next 5 minutes, following the same systematic procedure as above. Someone not involved in the initial check should perform it.

Documentation of the vehicle checks creates accountability and provides verification.

Keep the children safe... it only takes a moment to prevent a lifetime of regret.

Please call us at 800-463-8546 to discuss this or any other risk management safety tip, or visit our web site at www.redwoodsgroup.com to learn more about YMCA risk management related issues.

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Risk Management services are provided by The Redwoods Group to assist the insured in fulfilling its responsibilities for the control of potential loss-producing situations involving their YMCA operations. The information contained is not intended as legal advice; it simply represents trends in the YMCA industry, related industries and/or law. Laws and suggested standards are under constant review by courts, states and trade groups. They can be vastly different in each jurisdiction. For legal advice relating to any subject addressed, YMCAs are advised to seek the services of a local personal attorney. The information is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind and The Redwoods Group expressly disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to any information contained, including all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The Redwoods Group assumes no liability of any kind for information and data contained or for any course of action you may take in reliance thereon.

released 07/28/03