The Florida Department of Health works to protect children and staff in early care and education programs by encouraging careful consideration about the location of child care programs.
The Florida Choose Safe Places Program provides tools and education on best practices to reduce exposure to environmental hazards, such as guidelines to select safe locations, education about potential environmental hazards at or around child care sites, and tools that child care providers can use to work towards creating a safer environment for children in their care.
As children are growing and developing, they are especially vulnerable to exposures to harmful environmental substances where they learn and play. Children also spend much of their time in care outside their homes. In the U.S., more than 8 million children under age 5 are cared for in licensed programs for an average of 36 hours per week.
Florida Choose Safe Places provides resources and tools for child care providers and parents in order to help protect children from environmental hazards.
Participate in Safe Places
By participating in Florida Choose Safe Places, early care and education providers can do their part to help protect children and staff from potential environmental hazards. Learn more about the different options for participation.
View Interactive Map
Quick and easy to use tool for locating possible contaminated sites investigated by DEP. While these specific sites do not necessarily present a hazard for people, further investigation may be warranted. Learn how to use the map in 5 easy steps.
Resources
Air Pollution
Children breathe more air per body weight than adults. This leaves children at greater risk of health effects when exposed to air pollution. Air pollution is a common trigger of asthma episodes in asthmatics.
Playground Area Concerns
Artificial turf and crumb rubber
Some artificial turfs contain crumb rubber infill made from old tires, which could contain potentially harmful petroleum compounds, lead and volatile organic chemicals.
CCA-Treated Wood
Wooded playground structures made before 2004 could have been pressure-treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) solution. CCA-treated wood contains arsenic, which can be harmful to children if they come in contact with the wood and dust from the wood.
Petroleum Compounds
Some petroleum compounds can cause a variety of health effects including cancers.
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)
Many children are sensitive to VOCs, which can cause irritation to airways, skin and eyes, as well as other health effects depending on the extent of exposure and other factors.
Asbestos
If disturbed, materials that contain asbestos can release asbestos fibers. The fibers are so small they can be breathed into the lungs, which may lead to serious health effects including cancer.
Lead
Lead is a toxic chemical that can affect a child’s development and learning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no safe blood lead level has been identified for children.
Noise
Noise can be harmful to children’s hearing, learning, speech and mental health.
Radon
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, which you cannot see, smell or taste. Exposure to radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Toys and Other Consumer Products
Some toys and other consumer products may contain harmful toxins. It is important to check current recalls to find out if the products you are using are safe.