ILLNESS AND SICK CARE
The health and well being of all of the children here are of utmost importance to me. It is for the protection of the children that I must insist on strict adherence to my Health Policy. Please read it carefully. If you have any questions or doubts, regarding the statements it contains please discuss them with me now. Do not wait until your child is sick to think about what would be best for all concerned. At that point you may be making the decisions based on emotion instead of logic. Even with all of our precautions children do get sick and or hurt. Due to my concern for all of the children enrolled in my childcare there are certain guidelines that I require my clients to observe. In some cases, if your child needs to be seen by a doctor, you will be required to submit a signed report from your doctor before your child can return to child care. I will furnish you with the proper form. This is to ensure that a child does not return to childcare when he or she may be in danger of exposing someone else to an illness. Some contagious illnesses are no longer contagious after the child has been on medication for 24 hours.
There are a number of immunizations required by law before your child may attend childcare. Upon application for enrollment you will be asked to bring your child’s immunization record. You will be informed of any immunizations that will be needed before your child starts childcare.
Children with minor illness may attend childcare at the provider’s discretion. It is important to realize that if a child is unable to participate in the normal routine or needs more care than I can provide without neglecting the others in my care, that child must stay home. I know we both agree there are times a child needs to be with the parent for both physical and emotional comfort. There are also some illnesses that by law exclude the child from attending childcare. Some of those illnesses are but not limited to:
Infectious Conjunctivitis
Infectious Diarrhea
Impetigo
Chicken Pox
Hepatitis A
Scarlet Fever
Scabies
Lice
Ringworm
Strep throat
When a child has certain symptoms, he should be kept home or in a special setting. Some of these are:
FEVER
A fever is a sign that the body is fighting some problem. The importance of a raised temperature depends on what is causing the fever. For example, if nothing else is wrong and the child had a DTP shot, the fever is not cause for the child to stay home unless it directly affects his or her ability to handle normal daily activities. There are certain times when a fever means a child should stay home. These include: An infant up to 4 months with a temp of 100 degrees or higher. A child 4-24 months with a temp of 101 degrees or higher. A child over 24 months with a temp of 101 degrees or higher. In the event of this type of temperature, the child should not return until the temperature has been gone for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medications such as Tylenol. If your child awakes with a high temp and you administer a fever reducer, this generally only lasts a few hours and I will have to call you when you arrive at work to come pick up your child. In the meantime the other children have possibly been exposed to an undiagnosed illness.
VOMITING OR UPSET STOMACH
A child who has been vomiting can easily spread germs through vomit. The child may also need my help. The added time to clean up after the instance takes my attention away from the other children. If your child vomits while at childcare, you will be expected to come immediately to remove your child from childcare. If you are not able to come as soon as you are called, please arrange for someone else to come pick up your child. The child must stay home until 24 hours has passed with no vomiting episodes.
DIARRHEA
When a child has a single loose stool, he or she does not need to be at home. However, if a child has very runny stools that cannot be contained in a diaper, or the child cannot reach the toilet in time, the stool may contaminate the childcare setting and this child must remain home. Sometimes a child may get diarrhea from antibiotics or eating something different or too much of something. If they feel well and do not need extra attention and are able to participate in normal daily activities they do not need to stay home. Children with diarrhea, who look or feel sick, or have a fever along with their diarrhea, need close attention. They should stay home until 24 hours have passed with only one bowel movement.
RUNNY NOSE
Children with constant runny noses that are not caused by allergies may spread germs everywhere. They may wipe their noses on their hands, then rub them on their own and others clothing and on surfaces and toys. This is a difficult one to call. Please keep in mind how you would feel if another child’s parent brought their child to care and exposed your healthy child. These instances will be handled on a case by case basis. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. Other symptoms of illness that will cause some concern are: Gray or white stool, Infected skin patches, difficult or rapid breathing, pink eye, severe itching, sore throat, severe coughing, yellowish skin or eyes, spots or rashes, dark urine, headache/stiff neck, and unusual behavior.
Some of the features that help insure your child’s health are:
*NO SMOKING ON THE PREMISES
*My health policy is strictly adhered to.
*Current immunizations are required
*Good hygiene is stressed at all times
*Other than small infants, pacifiers are not allowed.
*Children are assisted in brushing their teeth.
* Infants are held while drinking from a bottle. Therefore children are not allowed to carry around or have a bottle in their beds.
*Favorite blankets or sleeping toys may be brought but kept for rest time. They are not shared with the other children and will be kept out of the daycare room.
*Children do not bring food or drink to childcare. (The only exceptions are pre-arranged treats)
*Children do not bring toys from home.
*Children are prevented from sharing cups, utensils and food
*Every attempt is made to keep toys and play area’s sanitized.
* Napping is done on individual cots or mats.
*Food preparation is done in a safe and hygienic manner.
*Menu’s follow Federal Nutritional Guidelines.
MEDICATIONS
If your child is on medication and it must be administered while at childcare, the medicine must be in the original container and labeled with the child’s name, doctor, name of medication, dosage and when it is to be taken. I will also have a form for you to sign giving me permission to administer the medication to your child. Medication will be given at the time or with the meal you specify and a written record kept.
KDHE Official Policy
CCL.037
Kansas Department of Health and EnvironmentRev. 9/2003
Bureau of Child Care and Health Facilities1000 SW Jackson, Suite 2000
Topeka, KS 66612-1274
Phone: 785-296-1270 Fax: 785-296-0803
Website: www.kdhe.state.ks.us/kidsnet/
Guidelines for Exclusion of Children (or Staff Working With Children) Who Are Ill
As Recommended in
Caring for Our Children: National Health and SafetyStandards: Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs
When formulating exclusion policies, it is reasonable to focus on the needs and behavior of the ill child and the ability of staff
in the out-of-home child care setting to meet those needs without compromising the care of other children in the group
Children with fever are managed differently in child care. The presence of fever alone has little relevance to the spread of
disease and may not preclude a child's participation in child care. A small proportion of childhood illness with fever is caused
by life-threatening diseases, such as meningitis. It is unreasonable and inappropriate for child care staff to attempt to
determine which illnesses with fevers may be serious. The child's parents or legal guardians, with the help of their child's
health care provider, are responsible for these decisions. Parents should be notified anytime a child has a fever.
A facility should not deny admission to or send home a child because of illness unless one or more of the following conditions
exists. The parent, legal guardian, or other person authorized by the parent should be notified immediately when a child has
a sign or symptom requiring exclusion from the facility, as described below:
The illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in facility activities;
The illness results in a greater care need than the child care staff can provide without compromising the health
and safety of the other children; or
The child has any of the following conditions:
1) Temperature: Oral temperature 101 degrees or greater; rectal temperature 102 degrees or greater; axillary
(armpit) temperature 100 degrees or greater; accompanied by behavior changes or other signs or symptoms
of illness until medical evaluation indicates inclusion in the facility. Oral temperature should not be taken on
children younger than 4 years (or younger than 3 years if a digital thermometer is used). Rectal temperature
should be taken only by persons with specific health training.
2) Symptoms and signs of possible severe illness (such as unusual lethargy, uncontrolled coughing, irritability,
persistent crying, difficult breathing, wheezing, or other unusual signs) until medical evaluation allows
inclusion.
3) Uncontrolled diarrhea, that is, increased number of stools, increased stool water, and/or decreased form that
is not contained by the diaper until diarrhea stops.
4) Vomiting illness (two or more episodes of vomiting in the previous 24 hours) until vomiting resolves or until
a health care provider determines the illness to be noncommunicable, and the child is not in danger of
dehydration.
5) Mouth sores with drooling, unless a health care provider or health official determines the condition is
noninfectious.
6) Rash with fever or behavior change, until a health care provider determines that these symptoms do not
indicate a communicable disease.
7) Purulent conjunctivitis (defined as pink or red conjunctiva with white or yellow eye discharge), until 24 hours
after treatment has been initiated.
8) Untreated scabies, head lice, or other infestation.
9) Untreated Tuberculosis, until a health care provider or health official states that the child can attend child
care.
10) Known contagious diseases while still in the communicable stage.