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Child Care & Schools

Free Lead Testing for Childcares

The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (LCDHE) is able to assist with testing the water being used in your school or child care facility. By registering with the link below, LCDHE staff will contact you to coordinate water sampling and consultation on test results at no cost. 

Register Here for Free Lead Testing

The child care and school health and safety programs protect public health by conducting inspection of public and private schools, child care operations, and other institutions that serve children and by promoting compliance with applicable state regulations through education and enforcement.

  • We use Rules and Regulations Governing the Health and Sanitation of Child Care Facilities in the State of Colorado to evaluate child care operations including the preparation and service of food, as well as general sanitation and disease and injury control measures in place within the facility
  • Use the Rules and Regulations Governing Schools in the State of Colorado to evaluate all schools Kindergarten through grade 12. Areas inspected include condition of general grounds, safety of water supply, proper sewage and refuse disposal, control of insects/rodents/classroom animals, plumbing, safety of equipment and supplies, food service, lab/art/vocational hazards, health services, and proper operation of mechanical systems
  • Review construction plans and inspect new or extensively remodeled institutional operations.
  • Conduct illness outbreak investigations and follow up on public complaints.

How can I find out how much lead is in our drinking water? 

Testing is the only way to know whether your water contains lead. You cannot see, taste or smell lead in drinking water. Testing is important if your home has lead pipes, lead-containing fixtures or lead solder. 

The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (LCDHE) will be able to provide assistance with testing the water being used in your child care facility.

Register here and LCDHE staff will contact facility owners to coordinate sampling of the water and consultation on test results at no cost. 

Who is most at risk? 

Infants and children are more vulnerable to lead than adults. This is because their smaller bodies need to eat, drink and breathe more often. Because they spend the majority of their time on the floor or ground, they may eat or breathe-in more dirt or dust than an adult. Any dirt or dust ingested that contains lead then enters their blood and can affect their rapid  growth and development.  

What about other uses of water?

Bathing, showering, washing dishes, and washing clothes in water that contains lead is safe. Human skin does not absorb lead in water and very little water will remain on clothes or dishes after washing.

Because infants and toddlers are especially sensitive to lead exposure, wash baby bottles and sippy cups with filtered or bottled water.

What if results show high levels of lead?

In most cases, high lead levels are associated with plumbing inside the home or child care  facility. Even though lead based plumbing materials were banned in 1986, further reductions in the quantity of lead in plumbing materials did not go into effect until 2014. Sources of lead could be a fixture, like a sink or faucet, that contains small amounts of lead or brass. 

There are simple and inexpensive options for alleviating the risks of lead exposure, from running faucets prior to use or installing filter systems. Testing is the only way to determine if an issue may be present and is the reason LCDHE is offering this program.  
 

Radon

Radon Information
Radon Testing And Results
How to Test for Radon
More Info


Illness Prevention

Recommended Illness Policy for Children and Staff
Infectious Disease Guide for Child Care and School Settings
Illness Surveillance Log
Using bleach in a childcare facility
Child Care Immunization Chart: Vaccines Required for Child Care, Preschool & K-Entry
Certificate of Immunization
Medical Exemption - English
Non-Medical Exemption - English
School Immunization Law Flowchart


Food Service

Date Marking
 

Lead

EPA Compliance Guide

The Health Department staff is here to help you from the beginning. Since compliance with all applicable regulations is necessary, it is much more cost effective for you to clearly understand what must be done and to we’ll help you do it right the first time.

Plan Review Application for Food Service
(same as retail food)


Schools are required to submit food service plans and specifications prior to starting construction, remodel or operation.

The Department of Human Services requires Health Department approval prior to licensure.