Tap water can reach temperatures high enough to scald and burn children. It's important for childcare facilities to clearly label faucet handles so even non-readers can distinguish between hot and cold. Most facilities use a red marker for hot and a blue one for cold. By reminding toddlers that blue is for ice and red is for fire, you can help them remember the difference. At public daycare centers, state laws mandate a maximum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit for the hot water heater, to ensure safety. For home care centers, the heater thermostat can be adjusted, or a separate control can be purchased and added to the unit. Either method will conserve energy in addition to providing peace of mind through safety. Ask you childcare providers how they prevent burns from tap water. If your care giver is a family home daycare, you may want to suggest that they regulate the temperature of their tap water. This can be done efficiently without affecting its normal uses.
