Date: May 11,2018
Revised: July 10, 2024
Purpose
Little Bloomers maintains its facility and equipment in a safe, clean condition, following the requirements relating to sanitary practices and food storage, handling and preparation set out in the O.Reg 137/15 under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. Little Bloomers staff will practice personal habits that promote good health and prevent the spread of infection. Task will be completed by staff daily, a chart will be provided in each room along with a sanitary practice schedule of each shift that will be posted in each room for teacher guidelines and references.
All Playrooms, Kitchens, Washrooms floors are swept and disinfected each day. They are to be cleaned after snacks and lunches and at 5:30p.m when children leave.
Procedures
Disinfecting Solutions using household bleach (5.25%) *Please Note: Solutions should be made daily*
Washrooms
All washrooms are to be sanitized 3 times a day. The 1st after all groups have used the washroom, 2nd after lunched are served and children are resting, 3rd after 6 pm when children are gone home. Solution to be mixed 1 tsp of bleaches 4 cups of water or 4ml of bleach with 1 litre of water, contact time 45 seconds.
Kitchen
The floor is swept and washed daily with disinfectant solution. (2 tsp bleach with 4 cups of water) The counters and sinks are cleaned daily with disinfectant (10ml of bleach with 1 litre of water, contact time 2 minutes) Stoves, fridges and cupboards are cleaned daily. An industrial dishwasher or an approved ‘three sink method’ with dishwashing soap used to clean all dishes and utensils. After all dishes have been washed with dishwashing soap, they are soaked in a bleach and then hung on the drying rack.
Hairnets are to be worn by kitchen staff. The kitchen is out of bounds to everyone except the cook while food is being prepared. The cook or whoever prepares or serves the food is to practice proper hand washing, using a germicidal soap and hot water, washing for approximately 30 seconds, in order to ensure proper cleaning of hands. They are also to wear an apron or smock.
Toys and Equipment
Toys and play equipment are to be disinfected weekly. Shelves and children’s cubbies are cleaned and disinfected weekly. Any toys that went into a child’s mouth should be put into a bucket that is labelled ‘mouth toys’ and should be washed at the end of the day. Intermediate level disinfectant used for toys, diapering stations, water play stations, and high touch surfaces within the centre. (Solution Mix: 10 ml of bleach with 1 litre of water, contact time 2 minutes)
Cots
Cots are scrubbed down every Friday by staff, or daily if cot is used or shared by other kids. or when a child has had an accident during sleep time. The Cots should be cleaned disinfected with solution, and then sprayed with bleach solution. Wait several minutes and then wipe clean. Pee and feces accidents should be cleaned with 125 ml of bleach with 1 litre of water.
Linens
Clean face cloths are used every day, 1 per child at each eating after lunchtime they are laundered for the following day. Sheets on the children’s cots are washed weekly. Blankets are to be sent home with parents to be washed and returned for the following week. If a child is sent home ill, the sheets and blankets are washed immediately, and the cot is disinfected.
Garbage
Garbage is removed daily. Diapers are to be removed from the room and placed in a closed container in the laundry room for disposal at the end of the day.
Diapering
Staffs are responsible to wash all toys that have been placed in the mouth on a daily basis. (Solution Mix 2 tsp of bleach with 4 cups of water or 10 ml of bleach with 1 litre of water)
Toddler Diapering Procedure
Washroom Routine
Staff are to wash their hands before helping each child go to the toilet. Each staff should wear gloves while helping children in the washroom. Each staff should be changing their gloves after each individual child is done in the washroom.
Children are to wash their hands with soap and water, after they have been to the toilet. They dry their hands on a paper towel, and then dispose the dirty paper towel in the garbage bin.
After each has used the washroom, staff are to clean the toilet including handle with the bleach solution. (Solution 10ml of bleach with 1 litre of water)
Lunch Routine
Staff are to clean all lunch tables with the bleach solution (10ml bleach 1 litre of water) before children sit down to eat, waiting 2 minutes before wiping table clean with a paper towel. Children wash their hands with soap and water before lunch and dry them off with a paper towel. After lunch, the children again wash their hands and then their face with their own face cloths. The cloth is then deposited in the laundry bin to be washed.
Cleaning up bodily fluid
All Staff should follow the proper procedures for cleaning up any bodily fluid from children. Staff should protect their eyes, nose and mouth from blood or body fluids when cleaning up spills by turning their face away or wearing a face mask.
Procedure:
Other Hygienic Practises
Staff members are to practice proper hand-washing procedures after completing washroom routine with the children. Before handling food staffs are to wash and dry hands thoroughly. When caring for a “sick” child, the teacher should wash hands prior to taking a temperature and afterwards to prevent germs from spreading. Before and after administering first aid staff must wash hands thoroughly. Staffs are required to wear vinyl gloves when treating a child who is bleeding or requiring any other form of First Aid.
For Water/Sensory Tables
The water table will only use fresh water and will be sanitized at the end of the day on the days that it is used. Children who have sores, cutes or any other type of wound that may transmit infection or disease may not use the communal water table until their issue has been resolved. In addition, cups and other drinking utensils will be kept away from the water so that children feel discouraged from drinking water from the tables.
Staff are required to sign a log agreeing on compliance and comprehension. Supervisor or Director present during the time of signing will sign as a witness. These documents will be reviewed annually, and/or if any changes are made to the policy. These documents will be kept confidential.