Stricter safety rules for fold-away cots introduced in Joensuu daycare centres after Vantaa accident

Daycare centres in Joensuu have implemented new safety guidelines for fold-away cots following a serious accident in Vantaa where a child was injured after becoming trapped between a cot and a wall, reports Yle.

Under the updated rules, children must not be present in nap rooms while cots are being raised or assembled. The room must be empty during this process, and staff are required to verify compliance. Children may only use the space once all cots have been set up, the room has been tidied, and a final safety check has been completed.

The directive was issued immediately after Finland’s Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) released a hazard warning on Friday morning, according to Irja Seppänen, head of early childhood education in Joensuu. Similar measures have already been adopted in Vantaa, and Seppänen expects other municipalities to follow suit.

Joensuu’s daycare centres use fold-away cots from a different manufacturer than those involved in the Vantaa incident. The city has confirmed with its supplier that the cots in use meet safety standards.

The incident has drawn national attention to the risks associated with fold-away cots in daycare settings. Earlier reports indicate that multiple manufacturers’ models have caused safety concerns, including cases where children’s fingers have been caught in hinges.