Choose Safe Places (CSP) helps child care programs find safe locations away from and free of environmental hazards. It teaches providers how to identify risks like lead paint on the walls or dry cleaners nearby before opening or moving in. The goal is to keep children safe from dangerous conditions where they learn and play.
Choose Safe Places for Early Care and Education
Free Radon Test Kits for Daycares
Participating in Choose Safe Places
Children are more sensitive to environmental toxins because they are still growing. Even if a building meets licensing rules, it could still be unsafe, especially if it used to be:
- A dry cleaner
- An industrial site
- A building with past chemical use or spills
The CSP program helps child care providers identify and reduce these risks before choosing a location or while operating a facility.
Checking for Hazards – Choose Safe Places for Early Care and Education video
Some child care programs are located:
- In buildings that were never cleaned up after industrial use
- Next to businesses that use or store hazardous chemicals
- In buildings with lead-based paint or unknown radon exposure
These exposures may not be visible, but they can harm children's health, especially:
- Infants and toddlers
- Children with asthma or other health issues
That’s why choosing a safe site is a critical step in protecting the children and staff in your care.
The Choose Safe Places Certificate of Education helps child care providers:
- Learn about environmental risks
- Take steps to identify and reduce hazards
- Show their commitment to creating a healthy space
To earn the certificate, providers must:
- Complete 4 hours of professional development training through IdahoSTARS
- Test for radon or lead in drinking water (or both)
Contact IdahoSTARS at 2-1-1 or visit idahostars.org
This certificate shows that a provider:
- Understands environmental risks
- Has taken real steps to protect children and staff
- Is going beyond what’s required by law
Environment
Testing for common environmental hazards helps providers identify problems and take steps to keep children safe.
Lead-based paint can be found in buildings before 1978. As paint ages or peels, it can create lead dust that children can swallow or breathe in when they crawl, touch surfaces, or put their hands in their mouths. Testing painted surfaces helps identify lead hazards so they can be safely repaired or removed.
Lead in drinking water can come from old plumbing, fixtures, or solder, even if the water source itself is clean. Children can be exposed when they drink water, wash their hands, or when water is used to prepare food or formula. Testing water at sinks and drinking fountains helps make sure lead levels are low and safe for children. Test to determine if household plumbing or service lines contain lead.
In addition to lead, childcare facilities that use a private well should consider testing for other common water contaminants that can affect a child's health.
- Bacteria (such as total coliform and E. coli) can enter water through soil, septic systems, or animal waste. These germs can cause stomach illness and diarrhea. Test yearly or if there is a flooding event, major water leak, problems with a septic tank, or if the well pump has been serviced.
- Nitrates are commonly found in groundwater, especially in rural areas with farming or septic systems. High nitrate levels are especially dangerous for infants and can interfere with how oxygen is carried in the blood. Test yearly.
- Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in some Idaho groundwater. Long-term exposure can increase the risk of cancer and other health problems. Test every 3-5 years.
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the ground and can build up inside buildings. It has no smell. color, or taste, so testing is the only way to know if radon levels are high. Long-term exposure to radon increases the risk of lung cancer. Because many areas of Idaho have higher radon levels, testing childcare facilities is an important step to protect staff and children. Free radon test kits are available to daycares in Idaho. Test every two years.
How to remove the following hazards:
Note: Idaho currently does not require facilities to fix identified hazards.
If a facility chooses to take action, it shows a strong commitment to health and safety even when it costs money or takes extra effort.
Chemicals like cleaning products, disinfectants, pesticides, or even hand sanitizers can be harmful if children touch, taste, or breathe them in. Proper storage helps prevent accidents and keeps your child care environment safe for everyone.
- Keep all chemicals out of reach and out of sight of children.
- Store chemicals in their original labeled containers. Never use food containers for chemical storage.
- Lock cabinets and storage rooms that contain hazardous chemicals.
- Separate incompatible chemicals (like bleach and ammonia) to prevent dangerous reactions and fumes.
- Do not store chemicals near food preparation or eating areas.
- Do not store chemicals in a well house or near a well head.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for storage and disposal.
Emergency Preparedness
- Keep emergency numbers, including poison control and the fire department, in a visible location.
- Ensure staff are trained in first aid and know how to safely clean up spills.
- Evacuate children immediately if a spill creates a dangerous situation.