07-05 · Vehicle Requirements

During the time of the inspection, the Licensing Specialist observed that the vehicle alarms are not able to be heard from the required 500 feet away and the alarm location is the front area of the transportation vans. According to the childcare facility handbook 2.5.4 Vehicle Requirements For the purpose of this section, vehicles refer to those owned, operated or regularly used by the childcare program, and vehicles that provide transportation through a contract or agreement with an outside entity. Parents/guardians personal vehicles used for transporting during field trips are excluded from meeting the requirements of this sub-section. A. All vehicles regularly used to transport children must be inspected annually by a mechanic to ensure that they are in proper working order. Documentation by the mechanic must be maintained in the vehicle. B. The maximum number of individuals transported in a vehicle may not exceed the manufacturers designated seating capacity or the number of factories installed seat belts. C. When transporting children, staff-to-child ratios must be maintained at all times. The driver may be included in the staff-to-child ratio if he or she meets screening and training requirements. D. All childcare facilities must comply with the insurance requirements found in Section 316.615(4); F.S. Documentation shall be maintained at the facility. E. The interior of vehicles, when being used to transport children, must be maintained at a temperature comfortable to children (between 65- and 82- degrees Fahrenheit). The vehicle can be ventilated either by mechanical or natural means to maintain the temperature. F. By January 1, 2022, all vehicles used by childcare facilities to transport children must be equipped with a reliable alarm system approved by the Department which prompts the driver to inspect the vehicle for children before exiting the vehicle. 1. Approved alarm systems must meet the following criteria: a. The alarm system must be armed or activated automatically when the vehicles ignition is turned on. b. The alarm system must be designed and installed so that the vehicle horn, siren or other type of audio alarm will sound if the driver/staff member does not walk to the rear or, in the case of a passenger van, the side entry point of the vehicle, to manually shut off or deactivate the alarm. c. The time delay from the time the ignition is turned off after activation of the alarm system until the alarm sounds shall be no longer than one minute. d. The alarm must be audible from the distance of 500 feet from the vehicle. .e. The alarm system must be installed so that the driver must walk to the back of the vehicle to reach the deactivation mechanism. Deactivation mechanisms installed in locations that do not require the driver to walk to the back of the vehicle and view all seating areas will not be acceptable. 2. List of approved alarm manufacturers may be found on the Departments website at www.myflfamilies.com/childcare .3. Alarms must be installed and maintained according to the manufacturers recommendations. 4. Alarm systems installed according to the manufacturers instructions prior to October 1, 2021, will be deemed to satisfy this requirement if they meet the criteria set forth in 2.5.4.F.1. above. Under this allowance, the existing alarm system must always be properly maintained in working order. Should at any time the alarm system require replacement, the new system must be selected from the Departments approved list referenced in 2.5.4 F.2. above

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.