Tennessee child care safety & emergency drills
Required drills, mandatory reporting, and child-health rules. This page isolates the configured Tennessee figures, related explanations, and primary source links from the full licensing guide.
Cited to TDHS Rules 1240-04-01Verified June 2026Summary only, not legal advice
Required emergency drills
- FireTN DHS HS-3275 (per Rule 1240-04-01-.18)Monthly
- Tornado / Severe weatherTN DHS HS-3275 non-fire drillEvery 6 months
- Lockdown / Shelter-in-placeTN DHS HS-3275; Rule 1240-04-01-.18(1)Every 6 months
- EarthquakeTN DHS HS-3275 non-fire drillEvery 6 months
- Vehicle / transport evacuationTN DHS Rule 1240-04-01-.17Quarterly
Suspected abuse or neglect must be reported: Immediately (1240-04-01-.10).
- Safe-sleep practices required for infants
- Medication-administration training required
- Children follow the CDC/ACIP immunization schedule; Tennessee accepts medical and religious exemptions with the required documentation
Citation: TDHS Rules 1240-04-01
Tennessee safety & emergency drills FAQ
How many annual training hours are required for staff?
An educator must complete 12 ongoing training hours each year, including 6 hours of health and safety and 3 hours of literacy. A single-site director completes 24 ongoing annual hours. Safe-sleep and medication-administration training are also required.
What emergency drills are required?
Centers run a fire drill monthly and one non-fire drill every six months covering tornado/severe weather, lockdown/shelter-in-place, and earthquake (relevant to West Tennessee and the New Madrid zone). Centers that transport children must also run a vehicle/transport evacuation drill quarterly. Mandatory incidents must be reported immediately under 1240-04-01-.10.
Disclaimer: These figures summarize TDHS Rules Chapter 1240-04-01 for convenience; operators should confirm current requirements directly with the Tennessee Department of Human Services before making licensing decisions. This page is a summary for informational purposes only and is not legal or compliance advice. Confirm with Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Care Services.