Hot Drinks at PlaygroupsWith the cooler weather coming on it’s a great time for Playgroup members to review their approach to hot drinks in the Playgroup. Keeping children safe at Playgroup is everyone’s responsibility. Potential hazards must be identified and procedures put in place to minimise risks. Every Playgroup should have very clear guidelines on hot drinks. 44% of all serious scalds to young children are caused by the spilling of hot drinks. The two most common scenarios are a child pulling down a cup of coffee, tea or hot water from its resting place (e.g. a bench, table or chair), or a child running into someone holding a hot drink (seated or standing). Obviously both of these scenarios are highly possible at Playgroup. Did you know?- Hot water can scald for up to 30 minutes after it has boiled.
- A cup of hot liquid spilled over a baby or toddler is equivalent to a bucket of hot water being spilled over an adult.
- They have thinner skin than adults, so their skin burns more deeply in less time.
- A child can sustain a serious scald from a hot drink in less than ONE second.
So, what should we do at Playgroup?- Firstly open up the discussion with everyone in the group, so that all opinions are canvassed before making your policy
- Discuss as a group your options and then decide the policy that the majority favours.
- Publicise the policy – notices in the Playgroup hall, put it in your newsletter, tell new parents as they join.
- Make it everyone’s responsibility to abide by the policy – no exceptions, no excuses
Possible Policies for you to consider…….- NO HOT DRINKS AT PLAYGROUP (recommended by Playgroup NSW)
Adults can have drinks such as water, juice or iced coffee/tea instead of hot coffee or tea. The children manage to drink unheated drinks on a cold day – why not the adults? Ensure all families and visitors are aware of the ‘No Hot Drinks at Playgroup’ policy.
- NO HOT DRINKS IN CHILDRENS SPACES (not recommended because accidents can still occur)
Create a ‘gated’ area (probably the kitchen) and insist on all hot drinks (and drinkers) remain in this area while the drink is consumed. Obviously this has to be a no-children zone for this approach to be effective – no exceptions
Perhaps have ‘split shifts’ so that some parents supervise the children while others take their turn to go and have their caffeine fix in this safe child free zone
- But we use insulated travel mugs – they’re OK aren’t they?
If you choose to use insulated travel mugs in your group, it is important that the lid screws on securely (at least 3 turns) and doesn’t just push on, as lids on the push-on varieties can easily pop off when dropped. Everyone also has to be aware thought that this will mean that the drink contained in the mug will remain hot for much longer and should the lid come off for any reason, then it is still highly dangerous even after a long time. And as the lid creates a vacuum, if it accidentally comes off, the hot liquid inside can spurt out and cause more harm than a normal spill.
The Importance of First AidNo matter which policy you choose, you should also have a well equipped and easily accessible FIRST AID KIT available whenever Playgroup is operating. And learn the latest treatments for scalds, burns and similar accidents BEFORE you need to know them!
Why not check out our Red Cross workshops for emergency first aid. It’s Everyone’s ResponsibilityAt Playgroup NSW we strongly recommend that it is far better to not have the hot drinks at all.
But if your group just can't ‘break the caffeine habit’ then we would much prefer that you took the listed precautions and at least slightly reduce your risk.
Babies and children are unpredictable, fast and vulnerable. And just one moment can turn a happy Playgroup experience into a huge trauma for all families in attendance. Burns on small children are deep and incredibly painful and often require ongoing plastic surgery for years after the accident. So think before you make that next cuppa at Playgroup and discuss how your group will together ensure the safety of all of the little ones who come along. For more information, see:
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