MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin day care has had to adapt to ensure its kids remain happy and healthy in the summer sun.
Citing recent air quality concerns, Betsy Erdmann, the director at Academy for Little Learners, said her child care center has closed its splash pad at times, part of its newly crafted ozone alert policy.
“And it pains me to have the children stay inside and not come out and play,” Erdmann said.
She said she wishes Academy for Littler Leaners could utilize the water play area every single say. The kids do too, she said, as they always “have a blast on it.”
But when air quality alerts noted heightened ozone alerts or wildfire smoke particles could be nearby, the staff first thought of the damage that could cause to little lungs.
“The air quality alert was something that was brand new to us and we had to kinda write our own policy on it,” Erdmann said.
A representative with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families told Academy for Little Learners officials that each day care center should develop their own air quality policy and closely monitor students’ health.
While the air alert is new to navigate, emergency situations are not. Keeping the kids safe is always Erdmann’s top priority, she said.
“This air alert is new to us, but it’s no different than any other emergency situation that we manage with the kids,” she said.
Presently, Erdmann said she plans to monitor air quality and weather advisories, making daily determinations on outdoor activities. She specifically mentioned monitoring the airnow.gov color awareness chart as she decides how each day at the center will look.
She said this could mean students stay outside for shorter durations — or even inside all day — depending on an elevated threat level.
“Each facility should provide daily outdoor activity except during inclement weather or when not advisable for health reasons,” Wisconsin Department of Children and Families told Spectrum News 1.
“Our number one concern is keeping the children safe; so of course you always err on making the most conservative decision that you can,” she said.