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Child Foster Care Home Safety Checklist – Guidance 2 <br />3. An operable flashlight and radio or television set that does not require electricity – these <br />items must be accessible in the home and be charged or have working batteries. A cell phone may be <br />used as a flashlight if it remains charged at all times. Using a cell phone as a radio/TV source is not <br />allowed as there may be problems with reception. Hand crank radios with flashlights are great <br />resources to meet both these requirements and may also include charging capability. <br />4. Accessible First Aid Supplies - at a minimum the following items must be accessible to everyone in <br />the home: bandages, scissors, ice bag or cold pack, oral or surface thermometer, mild liquid soap, and <br />adhesive tape. The CDC provides a list of basic first aid supplies recommended to be in every home. <br />5. An operable telephone - there must be an accessible phone in the home for emergencies. This may <br />be a cell phone, there is no requirement for a landline. Personal cell phones typically only used by the <br />license holder may not be used as the phone for the household. The phone must be centrally located <br />in the home and always charged and accessible for all members of the family, including foster <br />children. Some families achieve this by purchasing an inexpensive prepaid cell phone, however, the <br />phone must always have “minutes” available. Smart speakers, such as an Alexa or Echo, cannot be <br />used for this purpose as they are dependent on a power source and Wi-Fi accessibility. Nonactive cell <br />phones cannot be used for this purpose, even if they can call 911. <br />If the phone is a landline or one that relies on electricity, families need to have a plan for having an <br />accessible phone in the event of an extended power outage. A cell phone is an appropriate back up <br />plan. <br />Physical Environment <br />1. Exit doors and windows are not obstructed and easily opened from the inside - rooms used for <br />sleeping need at least two ways to exit. Generally, this is a door and one window large enough for egress <br />(to exit). Nothing can be blocking windows or doors in sleeping rooms for foster children or exits <br />identified on the emergency escape plan. Windows and doors must be able to open. If there is only one <br />window in the bedroom, it cannot be blocked by an air conditioner. During each home safety <br />inspection, the applicant or license holder can open the windows to ensure they open and close in a <br />reasonable fashion. Cranks must be present on windows that require them. Licensors are not required <br />to measure windows, however if they visibly look too small for egress, there is reasonable cause for a <br />fire marshal inspection. It is generally not recommended to have plastic coverings on windows; <br />however, they are approved by the fire marshal if they are transparent, only attached from the inside <br />with two-sided tape, Velcro, or static cling, and have enough material overhanging on all sides to allow <br />grabbing it from any direction for easy removal. <br />2. Wiring appears safe, no known hazards exist – there must be no electrical hazards such as open <br />wiring, missing switch plates, or holes where light fixtures would be. If there are questions, licensors can <br />take pictures and consult with the fire marshal to determine if an inspection is needed. <br />Page 191 of 379