Why California Added Lead Poisoning Prevention to Childcare Provider Health and Safety Training
If you completed California childcare training years ago, you may remember a time when Lead Poisoning Prevention (and possibly Nutrition) wasn't a dedicated part of the required Preventive Health & Safety curriculum. Your certificate was most likely for a 7-hour class which is now 8-hours.
This changed following California Assembly Bill 2370 (AB 2370). Beginning July 1, 2020, Lead Poisoning Prevention became part of the Preventive Health & Safety training requirement for childcare providers seeking licensure. Then on January 10, 2020 this PIN https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2020/CCP/PIN_20-01-CCP.pdf
Why did California make the change?
Lead exposure can have serious and lasting effects on young children, even potentially death. Many of the sources of exposure can be found in the everyday environments where children live, learn, eat, and play. Importantly, there is no known safe level of lead in the body.
Young Children Are Particularly Vulnerable
Children under 6 are at the greatest risk for lead poisoning. A young child's brain and nervous system are still developing, which makes exposure especially concerning during these early years.
Lead exposure can contribute to learning, attention, anemia, and behavioral problems. Higher levels of exposure can cause far more serious health consequences.
A Child With Lead Poisoning May Appear Healthy
One of the most important things for childcare providers to understand: **Most children with lead poisoning don't look or act sick. **When symptoms are present, they can be mistaken for common childhood complaints, including stomachaches, headaches, crankiness, or loss of appetite.
This is why prevention and appropriate testing are especially important.
Where Does Lead Exposure Come From?
Lead exposure isn't limited to one source; potential sources can include (but not limited to):
deteriorating lead-based paint
household dust
contaminated soil
certain plumbing materials
some dishes and cookware, toys and jewelry, certain imported foods or spices, and traditional remedies, especially when imported
lead dust carried home on clothing or shoes
tap water and faucets
A childcare environment can look clean and safe while still containing a potential source of lead that isn't immediately visible. Being able to understand the sources of lead, recognize a child being poisoned and recommending the appropriate blood testing can make an extreme impact on a child's life.
What Does AB 2370 Have to Do With Childcare?
California enacted AB 2370 in 2018 to strengthen lead-poisoning prevention in childcare environments. Among its provisions, the law resulted in Lead Poisoning Prevention becoming part of the Preventive Health & Safety training curriculum for applicable new childcare licensees beginning July 1, 2020. This wasn't simply another subject added to a course making it an extra hour.
The goal was to give people caring for young children a better understanding of how lead exposure happens and what can be done to help prevent it.
Lead and Drinking Water
AB 2370 also addressed lead in drinking water at licensed Child Care Centers. Child Care Centers constructed before January 1, 2010 are required to have the water tested for the lead levels every 5 consecutive years and must be done by an official water testing laboratory. This law does not include home Daycares.
**Here is a list of Lead Certified Contractors: **https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/CLPPB/Pages/LRCcertlist.aspx
Here is a list of Lead Certified Water Testing Laboratories:
Lead can enter drinking water through plumbing materials such as certain fixtures, solder, or service lines. You can't see, smell, or taste lead in water. Testing is the way to determine whether lead is present. Lead can also be found in many other places like soil, dust, paint, art supplies, dish ware, many jobs, hobbies and many more which expose us to lead.
What Can Childcare Providers Do?
Spreading awareness is one of the most useful things providers do. Educate, recognize poisoned children, and eliminate the hazard from the environment!
Regularly inspect your environment for deteriorating paint. Maintain good cleaning and handwashing practices. Pay attention to the dishes, toys, products, food, and water children are exposed to. Be especially careful during renovation or repair work that may disturb older painted surfaces as this can contain lead and be TOXIC to you!
Providing Information to Families
Lead poisoning prevention isn't limited to what happens during the childcare day. California Community Care Licensing currently requires Child Care Center and Family Child Care Home licensees to provide designated lead-poisoning information to parents and families when a child enrolls or reenrolls. This flyer must be printed and posted to easily be able to provide this information to families - Lead Flyer:
Why This Training Matters
It can be easy to look at Preventive Health & Safety training as simply another requirement on the road to becoming licensed. Childcare providers spend their days caring for children during one of the most important periods of physical and neurological development. Recognizing environmental hazards—and understanding how to reduce children's exposure to them—is part of providing a healthy childcare environment.
Lead may be invisible, but prevention begins with knowing where to look.
This article is intended for general educational purposes. Licensing requirements and public-health guidance can change. Always consult current California Community Care Licensing, EMSA, and California Department of Public Health guidance for requirements applicable to your childcare program.
