Microsoft word - ic3 health policy.doc

ABOUT IC3’S HEALTH POLICY
Our health policy is designed to provide a healthy environment for the children in our care as well as for
our employees. We recognize the work responsibilities of parents and the conflicts which arise when an ill
child must stay home. However, IC3 strives to control the spread of illness to the extent possible by
ensuring that neither children nor employees are needlessly exposed to illness. To ensure a healthy group
care environment, a partnership between parents and staff is necessary. Staff practice proper hand washing
and equipment disinfectant procedures to minimize the spread of illness in the classrooms and are alert to
the symptoms of illness. Parents play a key role in minimizing illness and maintaining a healthy
environment for all of the children by keeping their child out of the Center when the child’s health is
questionable or when the teachers believe it is necessary due to health concerns in the room.
RESOURCES
IC3’s health policy is based primarily on the 1994 Red Book (Part 2: “Recommendations for Care of
Children in Day Care”) published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This section is based on the
recommendations formulated by a joint committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the
American Public Health Association (APHA) “Caring for our Children” book and video series. These are
available to parents for review.
WHEN WILL CHILDREN BE SENT HOME?
The decision to send a child home is based on the symptoms a child is showing (see the following) and
especially on how the child is acting. Behavior is the key indicator of a child’s health. A child who is
unable to participate in normal group activities will be sent home. Although a mildly ill child may
seem well at home, that same child may be unable to handle the stimulation of the group care setting and
will be sent home.
A child will be sent home if any of the following are present:
• Child is unable to participate comfortably in group care • Child requires a greater care need than the staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of the other children in the classroom • Child shows signs of possible severe illness: • Child has a fever, which is defined as follows: Infants under 4 months: Rectal/ear temp ≥ 101.0ºF Children over 4 months: Rectal/ear temp ≥ 101.4ºF Because fevers are an important indicator of illness, children with a rectal/ear temperature of 101.4º F or higher will be sent home and must remain out of group care until the fever has been gone for at least 24 hours (without Tylenol® or other fever-reducing medication). During the course of an identified outbreak of any communicable illness (such as Rotavirus, for example) at the Center, a child may be sent (or kept) home if s/he is determined to be contributing to the transmission of the illness at the program. The child may be readmitted when the risk of transmission is no longer present. For Secondary Infections (such as Ear Infections): a child may return to group care ONLY if the child has bee diagnosed by a physician as safe (for the child and the other children in the classroom) to return to group care AND: • There is no fever present without Tylenol (no 24-hour waiting period required) AND • Child is well enough to participate in group care
Pre-Existing Conditions: If a child is showing symptoms of illness, it will be assumed the symptoms are
caused by illness unless we have written documentation in the child’s file that suggests another reason for
the symptoms (such as gastro esophageal reflux (vomiting due to a physical problem with the esophagus
and stomach) or diarrhea associated with lactose (milk) intolerance).
WHEN A CHILD IS SENT HOME
Teachers will notify the parents immediately when a child is ill. If the regular teachers are not available
and a substitute teacher or assistant believes a child is ill, a member of the Core Leadership Team will
determine if the child should be sent home. A member of the Core Leadership Team will also notify the
parents. A child should be picked up within one hour of receiving a call from the Center. If a parent
cannot be reached or has not arrived within an hour, the emergency contacts will be notified to pick up the
child. In cases where parents and teachers are in disagreement regarding the child’s health, a member of
the Core Leadership Team will clarify the Center health policies and assist in making the decision.
Each time a child is sent home, the parents will receive a SYMPTOM SHEET, on which the teachers note
the symptoms the child is showing. The child is to remain out of group care until:
Fever-free AND the doctor has stated in writing that it is safe for that child and for the other children in the room if the child returns.
Whenever a child’s health is questionable, the parents will be notified and asked to be “on call” in case the
child needs to be sent home.
GIVING MEDICATIONS AT THE CENTER
All medicines should be stored and dispensed at the front desk by a teacher or a Core Leadership Team
member. The only exception is for infants who can have medicines stored and dispensed in the Infant
Kitchen. No medicines should be stored in the classroom at any time. Medicines requiring refrigeration
may be stored in the Staff Lounge or the Infant Kitchen refrigerator in a separate box. Non-medications
such as sunscreen, Orajel, and Desitin may be kept in the classroom and should always be labeled with the
appropriate child’s name. Always note any allergies other children may have for these items, such as to
lanolin.
Prescription Medications
Once a doctor diagnoses a child as safe to return to group care, IC3 staff will dispense the child’s
prescription medication only if:
• The Prescription Medication consent form is completed and signed by the child’s doctor and the • The medication is in its original container.
Over-the-Counter Medicines
At the parent’s request, the staff of IC3 will administer certain over-the-counter medications for no more
than 3 consecutive days within any given week if all of the following conditions are met:
• Child has been given the medication on a prior occasion; • Medicine is on the approved list (see the following chart); • The over-the-counter medication consent form is completed and signed by the parent; • Medicine is in its original container and clearly labeled with the child’s name; • Dosage conforms to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines for the child’s age/weight. Dosage will be verified by the administrator on site. Medications will not be stored at the Center but must
be supplied by the parents as needed.
IC3 Reserves the right to refuse to dispense any medication.

NOTE: Comparable store brands or generic equivalents may also be used. IC3 does not recommend/condone any particular brand name but common brand names are listed here as they are more readily known. Common Over-the-Counter
Active Ingredient(s) Use
Brand Name(s)
Robitussin Expectorant
Per teaspoon:
Per Teaspoon:
Phenylpropanolmine Hydrochloride (12.5 mg) Dextromethoraphan (10 mg) Per Teaspoon:
Per Teaspoon:
Per Tablespoon:
Per Teaspoon:
Phenylpropanoliamine Hydrochloride (12.5 mg) Per Teaspoon:
Per Teaspoon:
Bacitracin Zinc (500 unites) Neomycin (3.5 mg) * - Caladryl lotion, which contains antihistamine, requires a doctor’s consent. ** - We will not give Tylenol (acetaminophen) for discomfort as a result of: immunization, injury, or teething. We will not give fever-reducing medication (such as Tylenol) if there is the possibility that the fever is caused by illness. If you have questions concerning IC3’s Health Policy or fell it is not being followed to your satisfaction, please speak to a member of the Core Leadership Team. Fever, vomiting (2 or more times in 24 hours), diarrhea (2 or more times in 24 hours), rash which is accompanied by other symptoms of illness: increased irritability, decreased appetite, decreased activity, constant need of one-on-one adult attention wheezing/rattling sounds in throat or chest, labored breathing, persistent cough, upper Persistent cough, wheezy/rattling sounds in throat (without Tylenol or other fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours On antibiotic medication for at least 24 hours Characteristic rash/blisters, fever, headache, or 7 days after forst blisters appear (whichever comes first) Fever-free (without Tylenol or other fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours Red, weepy eye(s) or eye(s) with pus or discharge, matted eyelids after sleep, intolerance to light, eye Barking/croaking cough, labored breathing, wheezing, sore throat, other respiratory symptoms (without Tylenol or other fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours 2 or more loose or watery stools that are not able to be contained in a diaper or toilet OR loose/watery stools that are able to be contained but accompanied by fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, NOTE: Rotavirus is an intestinal virus that is potentially dangerous for younger children. During an identified outbreak of Rotavirus in the classroom, IC3 will consult the Health Dept. and reserves the right to enforce more stringent guidelines for excluding any/all children who exhibit the symptoms of Rotavirus (diarrhea, accompanied by fever, vomiting, or abdominal pain). Diarrhea not able to be contained in diaper or toilet, There have been no accompanying symptoms for at least 24 hours Fever, blisters in mouth, on palms of hands and/or other fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours On the morning after the first treatment provided there are no nits or lice found Known contact with infected person, jaundice, nausea (in preschool children there are often no Immune globulin has been administered to children and staff in the program as per Health Dept. Blisters or encrusted sores (usually begin near nose or mouth), sores on hands/arms, sores on feet/legs Anal or vaginal itching/discomfort, pinworms Circular, ring-shaped patch on skin, round patches Fever, rash, sore throat, headache, chills, stomach pain, weakness, listlessness, nausea, vomiting 2 or Fever-free (without Tylenol or other fever0reducing medication) for at least 24 hours Fever, sore throat, headache, listlessness, nausea, Fever-free (without Tylenol or other fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours Fever, labored breathing, coughing, runny nose other fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours (1) These guidelines also apply to the employees of IC3. (2) A child’s behavior is a key factor in determining whether the child may return to group care. If a child is unable to participate in normal group activities or prevents the caregivers from providing appropriated care for the other children in the classroom, IC3 reserves the right to require a child to remain out of the group environment, regardless of a doctor’s diagnosis. (3) “Symptom-free” refers to those symptoms highlighted in bold face print in column two for which a child may

Staff and Health Policies
Describe your staff’s health policies and the procedures that have been implemented to oversee the health of those staff
caring for children and preparing food.
All staff must have a current physical and TB test no older than 2 years in order to begin work. The dates of the
physical and TB test are our personal data base and 2-3 months before they expire a warning is given that this needs to
be renewed. The Program director is responsible for maintaining this data base along with insuring the staff are in
compliance. Staff must adhere to the same policies that apply to the children in the center. These policies are outlined
in IC3’s Health policy handbook. Staff are provided paid sick leave and therefore exclude themselves from they
program when they feeling ill. Also, since our staff operate in co-teaching teams, co-workers evaluate the health and
performance ability of their co-workers. Staff are also trained in proper hand washing for the prevention of spreading
of germs.
Staff Training
A large majority of IC3 teachers are trained in first aid and or CPR. The goal of the Ithaca Community Childcare
Center is to have one teacher from each classroom be MAT certified and to also have three administrators be MAT
certified. These trainings will be listed in our personnel data base and reminders will be give to staff several months
before the expiration of their certification in order to renew. The Program director will be responsible for monitoring
this and ensuring that the appropriate number of staff are current on their certification. Staff are trained on IC3’s health
policy which includes exclusion of children from care, infection control and communicable disease, and the emotional
and physical care needs of ill children. We also have the have on site, written information sheets for the most common
childhood disease.

Source: http://icthree.org/docs/IC3_Health_Policy.pdf