Most daycare centers talk, at some point in time, about what to do when staff members discover that there is a missing child.
Unfortunately all too often the director thinks that once the topic has been discussed the staff has internalized the procedure and it never needs to be discussed again.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Directors forget that even seasoned teachers get nervous under pressure.
Directors can forget that daycare there is often a great turnover of assistant teachers who may have missed the "missing child emergency" lesson.
So the best prepared centers are those that routinely talked about two very important issues when a child is discovered missing.
First, what should and can be done to ensure that a speedy recovery of the missing child is maximized? And second, what are the legal issues that surround staff members when a child is missing? Here are 4 steps that can help staff members maximize the speedy recovery of a missing child.
1.
Staff members should immediately call 911.
A missing child is an extreme emergency and should be reported immediately.
By calling 911, the staff is able to use the police network to canvas the area and search for the missing child.
2.
Call the center director immediately after calling 911.
The center director will be able to mobilize additional assistance in searching for the child.
The director will also be able to notify the child's parents as well as notifying the director's superiors.
3.
The staff members, as well as other classmates, should remain at the same location as where the child was first noticed to be missing.
It's possible the child is playing a hiding game and will come out in a moment or so.
It is also the place of the last sighting of the child and may lead to some information that will help recover the child.
4.
If the child was noticed to be missing in a park, the staff should report this to the park ranger or park attendant.
This is another individual who can assist in searching for the child.
Children do childish things which can have disastrous results.
They can innocently disappear to explore new territory or have encountered an undesirable adult.
Whatever the reason for the disappearance, every staff member must be trained in their emergency response.
Emergency training will help them understand, before any true emergency arrives, what their legal responsibilities are and how to meet those responsibilities.
The director's goal is to reduce the amount of fear a staff member legitimately feels upon finding a child missing.
By doing so they will quickly seek emergency assistance.
Unfortunately all too often the director thinks that once the topic has been discussed the staff has internalized the procedure and it never needs to be discussed again.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Directors forget that even seasoned teachers get nervous under pressure.
Directors can forget that daycare there is often a great turnover of assistant teachers who may have missed the "missing child emergency" lesson.
So the best prepared centers are those that routinely talked about two very important issues when a child is discovered missing.
First, what should and can be done to ensure that a speedy recovery of the missing child is maximized? And second, what are the legal issues that surround staff members when a child is missing? Here are 4 steps that can help staff members maximize the speedy recovery of a missing child.
1.
Staff members should immediately call 911.
A missing child is an extreme emergency and should be reported immediately.
By calling 911, the staff is able to use the police network to canvas the area and search for the missing child.
2.
Call the center director immediately after calling 911.
The center director will be able to mobilize additional assistance in searching for the child.
The director will also be able to notify the child's parents as well as notifying the director's superiors.
3.
The staff members, as well as other classmates, should remain at the same location as where the child was first noticed to be missing.
It's possible the child is playing a hiding game and will come out in a moment or so.
It is also the place of the last sighting of the child and may lead to some information that will help recover the child.
4.
If the child was noticed to be missing in a park, the staff should report this to the park ranger or park attendant.
This is another individual who can assist in searching for the child.
Children do childish things which can have disastrous results.
They can innocently disappear to explore new territory or have encountered an undesirable adult.
Whatever the reason for the disappearance, every staff member must be trained in their emergency response.
Emergency training will help them understand, before any true emergency arrives, what their legal responsibilities are and how to meet those responsibilities.
The director's goal is to reduce the amount of fear a staff member legitimately feels upon finding a child missing.
By doing so they will quickly seek emergency assistance.
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