Child Care Health Policies

 

Our goal is to keep your child as healthy as possible so his/her energy can be used to grow and learn instead of to fight germs. Read on to see how these child care health policies enable us to provide the healthiest possible environment.

 

Child Care Health - Anaphylaxic Allergies

Anaphylaxis is a rare, severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that is treatable, and often preventable. The key to preventing an anaphylactic reaction is identifying triggers and preventing exposure to these triggers. Next to food allergies, insect stings are the most common cause of anaphylaxis. To help safeguard your child's health you may wish to provide a medical alert bracelet for your child. If your child is at risk of anaphylaxis it is your responsibility to provide:

• Verification of the allergy and its cause, signed by a doctor.

• Complete and current health and medication forms.

• Updated emergency contact numbers on file and on the sign-in form.

• A doctor's order for EpiPen, and/or any other necessary medications.

• Signed parental consent to administer medications.

• A sufficient supply of up-to-date medications.

  Anaphylactic allergies will be posted and reasonable precautions to avoid exposure to known triggers will be taken. For instance, the use of insect repellants on a child who is allergic to bee stings.

   

Child Care Health - Communicable Disease

One of our goals is to promote optimum health among our children, our families, and in our community. We are prohibited from caring for any child with a communicable disease such as chicken pox, measles, mumps, scarlet fever, infectious hepatitis or meningitis, and follow Florida Department of Health Services' guidelines for Exclusion from Child Care. In addition, First Steps Prep Childcare~Pre-School is mandated by state law to report any confirmed cases of these communicable diseases to all enrolled families, my licensing specialist, and the Florida Health Department. All communicable disease reports will be posted near the sign-in sheet and will include signs and symptoms of the disease, but will omit the names of children who are ill and their families.

 

Child Care Health - Diarrhea or Vomiting

Because vomiting and diarrhea are often contagious and make it difficult to maintain a clean and hygienic environment, we cannot care for a child who has diarrhea/is vomiting, or has had diarrhea/has vomited within the past 24 hours. One incident of diarrhea or vomiting while at First Steps Prep Chilcare~Preschool your child will be sent home and may return to care after a full 24 hours has passed since the last bout of diarrhea or vomiting, and can tolerate a regular diet. A child who is unable to tolerate a regular diet is not ready to return to care.

 

Child Care Health - Environment

Each child's health is important to all of us as it can affect our families and home life. We strive to maintain a healthy environment by encouraging the children to cover their sneezes and coughs, and to wash their hands frequently, especially before and after eating and after using the bathroom. As mandated by Florida licensing rules, toys and surfaces used by the children are cleaned and disinfected regularly, and any toys that are mouthed are sanitized as soon as possible.

 

Child Care Health - Exclusion from Care

In order to provide the most positive daily experience for each of the children, licensing rules require that all children be observed for signs of illness upon arrival, and prohibit First Steps Prep Childcare~PreSchool. from caring for any child who is ill. Please do not bring your child if he/she has any of the following symptoms:

• Fever above 101° in the past 24 hours

• Constant, thick, colored nasal discharge

• Vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours

• Contagious or unexplained rash

• Has been on a prescribed medication for less than 24 hours

• Shows other signs of illness

• Requires constant attention

• Refuses to play

• Cries, whines, and/or wants to be held constantly

• Generally seems unwell or unable to participate in a full day's activities

• Is unable to tolerate a regular diet

  If your child arrives exhibiting any previously listed symptom, or any other questionable symptom, I am not allowed to accept him/her for care that day. If your child develops any of these symptoms while in my care, he/she is required to return home immediately.

   

Your child may return to care when he/she is symptom free for 24 hours; has been appropriately treated by a health care provider; and/or has been given written medical approval to return to child care. Please inform us if your child has been ill recently or if there is an illness in your family, even if the illness occurred over the weekend.  Parental cooperation is essential to maintaining a healthy environment for everyone present at First Steps Prep Chilcare~PreSchool.

 

Since a fever often is a symptom of contagious infection or illness, we cannot care for a child who has a fever above 101° or has had a fever above 101° in the past 24 hours. If a member of our staff suspect that your child has developed a fever while in our care, your child's temperature will be taken with a digital thermometer at least twice at 15-minute intervals, and each temperature recorded. Two readings of fever over 101° require that your child return home immediately. Your child may return to care when a full 24 hours has passed after the fever has ended naturally, without use of fever reducer. If a doctor determines that the fever is due to an infection, the child may return 24 hours after beginning an antibiotic, or with the doctor's written note.

 

Child Care Health - Lice & Nits

Children in child care are often physically close to each other, which makes them very susceptible to head lice. Head lice is not caused by a lack of cleanliness; lice can be found on persons of any age, ethnicity, hair color, hair type, and on persons with clean hair. Parents have the primary responsibility for the detection and treatment of head lice, however I will work with families to prevent the spread of head lice within the center.

 

Because lice spread so easily, children with head lice cannot attend child care. If your child is found to have head lice or nits (eggs) while in my care I will notify you and isolate the child within sight and hearing. You must reply to the notification promptly, and pick up your child within one hour of notification. If I don't receive a reply within 15 minutes your child's emergency contact person will be called to pick up the child.If you discover lice or nits in your child's hair while at home, please let me know immediately so I can notify the other families and take precautions against the spread of lice in the center. Plan to keep your child home until he/she is completely free of lice and nits. Often a second treatment 7-10 days after the first is necessary to completely treat the condition.

 

Contact your doctor for the proper way to treat your child, as well as effective procedures to rid your home of lice and prevent a re-infestation. Your child may return to care after the condition has been properly treated and all lice and nits have been removed from his/her head. A signed doctor's note stating that the child has been properly treated and is free of all lice and nits is required before the child can be accepted for care. In order to prevent the spread of lice through the center, children who have been treated for lice will be checked at the door and must be free from lice and nits in order to enter the building. Any report of lice infestation will posted near the sign-in sheet and will include signs and symptoms, but will omit the names of affected children and their families.

 

Child Care Health - Medication

In order to avoid accidents and mistakes, we are able to give your child prescription medicine only if you have completed, signed and submitted a Medication Authorization form. You can download a copy to bring with the medication, or use one of the copies behind the sign-in sheet. Only Prescription medications will be administered and must be in the original container with the original label, and have your child's name, the correct dosage and administration directions written on it. All medication administered is recorded in the medical log, along with the dosage and time it was administered, and the initials of the caregiver who administered it. Parents have access to medical log entries concerning their child.

 

Child Care Health - Preventative Care

Routine immunizations help protect us all from life-threatening diseases. Your child's immunizations must be kept up to date and his/her Immunization Record kept updated and on file with me. To make sure that your child is able to participate in all of our activities, he/she must have a physical within 30 days of his or her start date, and at regularly scheduled intervals afterward. Due to licensing regulations, failure to keep immunization and physical forms current may result in your child being excluded from care until the forms are updated.

 

Child Care Health - Rash

Because children play so closely together and share each other's "personal space" frequently, we cannot care for a child who has a contagious or an unexplained rash. If your child develops a rash while in my care I will notify you and isolate the child within sight and hearing. You are expected to reply to the notification promptly, and pick up your child within one hour of notification. If I don't receive a reply within 15 minutes your child's emergency contact person will be called to pick up the child. Your child may return to care after the rash vanishes, a non-contagious cause is found for the rash, or a doctor's written note allows the child to return.

 

Child Care Health - Returning Home

If your child becomes ill while in ou care we are not allowed to care for him/her. We will isolate your child within sight and hearing and notify you immediately. You must reply to the notification promptly, and pick up your child within one hour of notification. If I don't receive a reply within 15 minutes your child's emergency contact person will be called to pick up the child. Your child may return to care when he/she is symptom free for 24 hours; has been appropriately treated by a health care provider; and/or has been given written medical approval to return to child care.

 

Child Care Health - Smoking

To maintain a healthy environment for our lungs, smoking is not allowed anywhere on the premises of First Steps Prep Chilcare~PreSchool when children are present.

 

Universal Precautions

As protection against blood-related modes of disease transmission, all caregivers will use universal precautions when exposed to blood or bodily fluids containing blood. Single use disposable gloves shall be worn if there is contact with blood-containing body fluids or tissue discharges. Gloves shall be used only for the care of one child, then discarded in plastic bags. Hands shall be washed with soap and running water after removal of gloves.