Childcare Daily Fire Safety and Evacuation Readiness

Fire safety readiness must be verified daily in childcare facilities where children cannot self-evacuate. This daily inspection ensures smoke detection, egress routes, and fire suppression equipment meet NFPA 101 Life Safety Code requirements and are ready for immediate response.

  • Industry: Childcare and Education
  • Frequency: Daily
  • Estimated Time: 15 minutes
  • Role: Opening Staff / Safety Coordinator
  • Total Items: 31

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detection

Verify smoke and CO detection systems operational.

  • No smoke detectors in alarm or chirping low battery status?
  • All carbon monoxide detectors functional with no alarm status?
  • Monitored alarm panel shows no trouble or supervisory signals?
  • Fire alarm pull stations visible and unobstructed?
  • Sprinkler heads unobstructed with no paint or objects within 18 inches?

Egress Routes and Exits

Inspect all exit routes for clearance.

  • All exit doors free of obstructions including stored materials?
  • All exit signs illuminated (check backup power indication)?
  • All designated exit doors opening easily from interior?
  • Evacuation route maps posted in all classrooms and corridors?
  • Secondary and emergency exit routes accessible and unobstructed?
  • No chains, bars, or barricades on any required exit door?

Fire Extinguisher Readiness

Inspect fire extinguisher accessibility and condition.

  • All fire extinguishers visible and unobstructed?
  • All extinguisher gauges in green charged zone?
  • Safety pins and tamper seals intact on all extinguishers?
  • Annual service tag on all extinguishers within past 12 months?
  • Extinguishers at required accessible height (handle no more than 5 feet high)?

Corridors and Common Areas

Inspect corridors and common areas for fire safety.

  • All corridors and hallways free of stored materials?
  • Corridor width maintained meeting minimum code requirements?
  • Fire-rated doors self-closing and latching properly?
  • No fire-rated doors propped open with wedges or chairs?
  • Corridor combustible materials minimized per fire code allowances?

Evacuation Readiness

Verify evacuation readiness.

  • Current child and staff roster available for evacuation accountability?
  • Outdoor assembly area clear and accessible?
  • Evacuation cots or cribs available for infants if applicable?
  • Classroom go-bags in accessible location?
  • All current staff trained on evacuation procedures?

Monthly Fire Drill Tracking

Track monthly fire drill compliance.

  • Fire drill completed this calendar month?
  • Drill log current with past 12 months of drills documented?
  • Drills varied across different times of day throughout year?
  • Any issues from last drill corrected?
  • Next drill date scheduled on program calendar?

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Why Use This Childcare Daily Fire Safety and Evacuation Readiness?

This childcare daily fire safety and evacuation readiness helps childcare and education teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for opening staff / safety coordinator professionals, this checklist covers 31 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Childcare Daily Fire Safety and Evacuation Readiness cover?

This checklist covers 31 inspection items across 6 sections: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detection, Egress Routes and Exits, Fire Extinguisher Readiness, Corridors and Common Areas, Evacuation Readiness, Monthly Fire Drill Tracking. It is designed for childcare and education operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed daily. Each completion takes approximately 15 minutes.

Who should use this Childcare Daily Fire Safety and Evacuation Readiness?

This checklist is designed for Opening Staff / Safety Coordinator professionals in the childcare and education industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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