Keeping everyone healthy and safe
Injuries, emergencies, drills, and everyday health.
My child got hurt at school
Bumps and bruises happen with active kids. We give first aid and lots of TLC, then let you know in Brightwheel or a Slack message.
Anything more serious, we call you right away.
Read moreShow less
How we let you know
- Minor: first aid and TLC, then a note in Brightwheel or a Slack DM
- More serious: a phone call right away. How serious it is decides whether your child needs to go home or see a doctor.
- We share every incident with you, and keep other families' details private.
We always report
- Injuries that need more than two bandages
- Any injury to the face, head, or neck
- Behavior incidents, like tantrums, biting, or running away
- A child who was lost, missing, or hiding
- Needles, ammunition, or other unsafe objects found in the park
If it's serious
We call 911 first, then you.
Children go to Swedish Emergency Room, Ballard, unless other arrangements are made.
Read moreShow less
What happens
- Teachers assess and call 911 if needed.
- One teacher stays with your child while the other cares for the group.
- Staff stay with your child until emergency help arrives.
- We contact you as soon as possible. If we can't reach you, we call your emergency contacts.
Always with the group
- Staff with current First Aid and CPR certification
- Fully stocked first aid kits
- Your child's emergency medical form, which lets us get emergency care for them
- A cell phone and safety whistles
Keep your phone numbers and emergency contacts current in Brightwheel.
Where is my child in an emergency?
With their teachers, protected and supervised, until you or someone on your pickup list arrives.
We'll contact you as soon as everyone is safe.
Read moreShow less
Earthquake
- Teachers move children to the nearest open field or parking lot.
- Everyone practices Drop, Cover, and Hold.
- Once children are safe and any medical needs are handled, teachers start contacting families.
- We stay sheltered in place until it's safe to go back.
Lockdown or shelter in place
- Used if an unsafe person or animal is nearby, or an emergency alert is issued
- Three whistle blasts mean everyone comes to a teacher right away
- Children gather in one safe spot while a teacher watches the area
- If we're near school, we go back to school
- We call 911 as needed and follow up with every family
Drills
We practice fire, earthquake, and safety drills throughout the year, weekly or monthly. Children practice the three-whistle gather at least once a week.
Earthquake-ready backpack
Tuck a laminated family photo and an extra snack in your child's backpack.
Handwashing
Children wash at arrival, before and after eating, and after the bathroom.
Outdoors, we bring warm running water and park-safe soap.
Read moreShow less
When we wash
- Arriving, and coming inside
- After the bathroom
- After outdoor play and gardening
- After touching animals
- After nose-blowing, sneezing, or touching body fluids
- Before and after eating or food activities
- Any time hands touch faces or germy spots
Hand sanitizer
- Only after dirt is cleaned off, never instead of washing
- 60–90% alcohol
- Always with a teacher watching
Cleaning
Toys, laundry, counters, floors, tables, shelves, toilets, and sinks are disinfected regularly with a bleach solution.
Water bottles
Send a labeled water bottle every day.
Teachers carry extra water for refills and cooling off.
Read moreShow less
- Each teacher carries a canteen used only for pouring drinking water.
- On hot days, teachers carry a large bottle with a fountain top for refills and cooling.
- Labels prevent mix-ups and keep germs from spreading.
Vaccines
Children must be vaccinated, or have a medical exemption.
Read moreShow less
For how the Washington State Department of Health defines a medical exemption, see page 2 of the Certificate of Exemption.
Allergies and special health needs
Allergy documentation and any care plan must be on file before your child starts.
Life-threatening allergy? Please read the details before enrolling.
Read moreShow less
Every allergy
- Tell your child's teacher about any allergy, and keep documentation on file.
- Anything we hand out to children is free of all allergens.
- Medicine, including an EpiPen, needs a signed Medication Authorization form. How to send medicine →
- Pet visits are planned around children with allergies.
Life-threatening allergies
We're allergy-aware, but we can't promise an allergen-free space. We don't control what families pack, and the park has nut trees and food left behind by visitors.
If your child has an EpiPen, a teacher keeps it with them throughout the day. All of our teachers are trained in First Aid and CPR, which includes using an EpiPen.
If avoiding an allergen completely matters most to your family, please think carefully about whether our program is the right fit. Some programs are fully peanut-free, and one of them may be a better match. We're always glad to talk it through with you.