Choose Safe Places: Child Care Provider Resources
The Wisconsin Choose Safe Places Program offers child care providers resources about environmental health hazards.
Lead
Lead poisoning is caused by several sources, including:
- Paint—Lead-based paint is the primary source of lead poisoning in children.
- Drinking water—Lead can be found in contaminated drinking water.
- Review our Lead in Water webpages and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Lead in Drinking Water, DG-0015 (PDF) flyer to learn more about how you can take action to prevent exposure to lead in drinking water.
- Other sources—Lead can be found in certain products, like some toys and makeup.
- Review our Lead Poisoning: Emerging Sources of Lead, P-01887A (PDF) flyer.
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Drinking water
In addition to lead, other pollutants can contaminate drinking water, such as arsenic, bacteria, and nitrate.
Many people in Wisconsin get their drinking water from private wells. For this reason, child care centers should test their drinking water regularly for:
- Bacteria—Review our Bacteria in Private Well Water, P-02132 (PDF) flyer.
- Nitrate—Review our Nitrate in Private Well Water, P-02128 (PDF) flyer.
- Arsenic—Review our Arsenic in Private Well Water, P-45012 (PDF) flyer.
If you get your water from a public system, look up or contact your local water utility to review your Consumer Confidence Report. This report describes where your water comes from and what’s in it.
Indoor air
Pollutants that can contaminate indoor air include:
- Radon—Radon is the main cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers.
- Learn more about radon and review our Is Your Home Radon Safe?, P-01963 (PDF) flyer to help keep your child care center safe.
- Carbon monoxide—Carbon monoxide in the air is hard to detect.
- Review our Protecting Your Family from Carbon Monoxide, P-01569 flyer to learn steps you can take to protect children from the harmful gas.
- Mold—Keep areas clean and dry to prevent mold.
More resources
Learn more about:
- Children and environmental hazards
- Environmental health topics, such as air, soil, and water
- Lead poisoning
- Maintaining a healthy home
Partner resources
- Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin conducts asthma walk-throughs. Learn about the program and how to reduce asthma triggers on the Children’s Health Alliance website.
- Children’s Environmental Health Network has resources on its Eco-Healthy Child Care® site, including an e-learning course on environmental health issues.
If you have more questions, email dhsenvhealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov.