Health Policy Document

We realize that health is a complex issue in a daycare and in formulating our health policy, we have been cognisant of the following factors:

• All children have the right to quality care which is safe and healthy
• The inability of the child, who is ill, to cope with the daycare’s program
• The need to protect our children from contagious diseases
• The need of parents for a guideline to assist them in deciding whether or not to bring a child who is ill to the daycare
• The responsibility and commitment of parents who work full-time

Illness

Our basic guideline is that a child will not be admitted to the daycare if the caregiver feels the child shows signs of any of the following symptoms of illness:

• an unexplained fever
• serious, unexplained diarrhea, (foul smelling, unusual colouration, mucous like, liquid, burning)

In addition, if the child has two or more such movements during the day, parents will be asked to take him/her home

• serious unexplained vomiting
• paleness or flushed face or crying constantly
• yellow discharge from the eyes, crustiness around the eyes, puffy and/or red eyes

All of the above signs and symptoms are fairly obvious and indicate that the child is ill. Unfortunately, there are other times that it is difficult to determine if the child should be at the daycare. A slight cold at the end of the illness is such an example. In such instances, please use reasonable judgement.

There are other times when a child is not showing signs of a definite illness, but yet is unable to handle the stress of the day. In such cases, it will be the decision of the supervisor, operator and staff as to whether the child should be taken home. It is expected that parents make arrangements within two hours of the first phone call from the daycare staff.

Contagious Disease

If a child is suspected of having any contagious disease (ie pink eye, measles, etc.) the child must not be in the daycare. If symptoms develop during the day, the parents will be asked to take the child home immediately. The child will not be accepted back until there is a note from the doctor saying that the children’s condition is no longer infectious. Public Health will be notified of any communicable diseases as required.

Outbreak of Illness

Defined as when more than the average number of children and staff in the day care population are sick with the same symptoms at the same time. In the event of an outbreak of a reportable communicable disease, the Public Health Department will be notified (905) 791-7800. All parents will be notified of an outbreak via Hi Mama Platform and written notice on each door of the daycare.

Outbreak Contingency Plan

In the event of an outbreak of illness the daycare staff will implement the following procedures:

1. The child who is ill will be isolated from the other children,
2. Staff will call the children’s parents
3. Children will be excluded as per the daycare centres Health Policy
4. All incidence of reportable illness will be recorded , and the Public Health Department notified accordingly
5. Water play will be suspended until the outbreak is over

Re-admission

• Children will be readmitted only when well enough to participate in all daily daycare activates
• 24 to 48 hours symptom free
• With a doctor’s note stating that the child is able to attend

Universal Precautions and Prevention

Emphasis is placed on preventing the spread of illness via the following:

• diligent sanitation procedures
• immunization requirements
• the reporting of infectious communicable illness
• parent education
• frequent hand washing for staff and children
• toy washing schedules in each program
• frequent disinfecting of equipment (tables, cribs, linens, sinks, floors, pillows etc)

Diapering Policy

Here at Little Bloomers Child Care Center we want to ensure all staff and volunteers are aware of our diapering routine. It goes as follows:

1. Collect supplies
2. Wash your hands
3. Put on a new pair of disposable gloves
4. Remove and discard soiled diaper
5. Clean child and then diaper and dress the child
6. Remove and discard soiled rubber gloves
7. Wash your hands and wash the child’s hand too
8. Clean and disinfect the diaper changing surface
9. Wash your hands again

Cleaning and Disinfecting Policy

These are the minimum recommendations and apply to the normal operating conditions. During an outbreak of a communicable disease, extra cleaning and disinfecting will be necessary.

Toys:

• Mouthed toys to be disinfected daily using the clean-disinfect-air dry routine
• Small and large toys to be disinfected weekly using the clean-disinfect-air dry routine(plastic toys can be put in the washing machine)
• Dress up clothes to be done weekly put in the laundry and dried on the hottest setting
• Hats to be washed after each play session

Sleep areas:

• Cots to be disinfected weekly using the clean-disinfect- wait-then wipe routine
• Cot linens to be washed every week drying on the hottest setting

Play Areas

• Table Tops to be cleaned before and after each use, using the clean-disinfect-air dry method
• Floors to be cleaned daily and after all eating
• Rugs and other areas to be done twice weekly using a vacuum(to be steamed cleaned twice a year)

Toilets

• Toilet bowls to be done weekly using toilet bowl cleaner
• Toilet seats and rims to be done daily using the clean-disinfect-air dry method
• Flushing handles, door knobs, counters, faucets to be done daily using the clean-disinfect-air dry method
• Diaper change table to be done after each use using the clean-disinfect-wipe dry method

Cleaning-up Blood and Body Fluids

Protect your eyes, nose, and mouth from blood or body fluids when cleaning up spills by turning your face away or wearing a face mask:

1. Put on disposable gloves
2. Soak up the spill with paper towels
3. Wash the area with detergent and water
4. Disinfect the area with bleach solution 1L of water to 125 ML bleach allow 2 minutes for contact time
5. Safely discard all paper towels and gloves in the garbage
6. Wash your hand with soap and water

Emergency Preparedness/Contingency Plan

In the event of a power outage Little Bloomers Child Care Center will remain open, the fridge and freezer will remain closed. Pizza will be order for all the children and if a closure is required all parents will be notified immediately.

In the event of a flood the area where the flood is will be isolated off and children will not be permitted to go there. If the flood is unmanageable the center will be closed and all families will be notified immediately.

If the center experiences a sewage back-up that area will be closed, children and staff will not be permitted to using the washroom. There will be another washroom that the children can use if the center can not operate because of this it will be closed and all parents will be notified.

If the center experiences no portable water or a water interruption the staff will ensure there is a case of drinking water in each classroom. There will also be a jug of water located in each bathroom to assist with washroom routines.