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Nanny Fraser Home Daycare Contents
Parent Handbook
Additional Info
C. Fraser © 2008,
Fraser Service Group. All Rights Reserved. |
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Issues of Health
Issues of Safety
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Section 4 (a)
Health and
Safety
As a former Joint Health and Safety Committee co-chair,
workplace inspector and claim investigator, I am 100% committed to safety.
Having worked in a variety of childcare settings, I understand the importance
of infection control. The following procedures will help keep your child and
your family safe and healthy.
Issues of Health
Section 4 (b)
Infection Control
All food preparation surfaces are thoroughly sanitized before and after each use and as needed. Eating areas are
sanitized using a bleach and water solution before and after each meal. Used
dishes are set aside and sanitized in the dishwasher after business hours.
Mouthed toys are removed from the play
area immediately after use and sanitized after business hours. Toys and
hard surface play areas are sanitized weekly. Soft
surfaces (such as fabrics) are sanitized weekly.
Carpeted areas are cleaned weekly. Hard floor areas are cleaned weekly, unless an infant or toddler is enrolled
in the program, in which case the floors are cleaned daily after business
hours.
Hand washing is the first defense against illness and
infection. Everyone in the daycare is required to wash their hands thoroughly,
following hand washing procedures (see section 4c). Hand washing is required:
·
After
using the bathroom
·
After
coughing or sneezing into the hands
·
After
blowing the nose
·
Before
and after handling food
·
After
outdoor play
·
Before
and after water sensory play
·
After
messy activities such as painting or gluing
·
As
needed
Section 4 (c)
Hand Washing Procedure
The following is also posted (in a visual, child-friendly
format) in all hand washing areas.
- Turn
on the tap and adjust the temperature.
- Lather
up hands with liquid soap.
- Continue
to rub hands briskly together for a minimum of fifteen seconds (usually singing the alphabet or happy
birthday twice is a good time reference for children).
- Rinse
hands off under the running water until they are free of soap.
- Dry
off hands using a paper towel.
- Using
the paper towel, turn off the taps.
- Dispose
paper towel in the trash can.
Section 4 (d)
Illness – Reporting an Absence to
the Daycare
Parents are encouraged to keep their children home when
they are too ill to attend.
Unexplained absences will obstruct the regular routine and
schedule of the daycare. For example, delaying outdoor play to wait for a child
who will not appear due to illness infringes on the time of the other children
enrolled in the program. Therefore, parents are encouraged to call the daycare
to report their child’s absence no later than
Failure to report an absence results in the following
consequences:
First occurrence – A verbal notice is issued to the parent and a new copy of the Parent
Handbook is provided for the parent.
Second occurrence – A written notice is issued to the parents, including a signed copy of the
Parent Agreement Contract.
Third occurrence – A written termination notice is issued to the parent to find alternate care for their
child within two weeks.
Forth occurrence – Enrollment is
terminated without further notice.
Section 4 (e)
Illness – Reporting Incidents to
the Parent
There are occasions when minor illnesses occur that do not
require exclusion from the daycare program. These illnesses may include mild
colds and flues. However, illness with severe symptoms are not only dangerous
to the child but are likely very contagious and place other children at risk.
Symptoms and illness that require exclusion include:
·
High
fever
·
The
appearance of blotches or lesions on the skin
·
Vomiting
·
Diarrhea
(exclusion for 24 hours)
·
Severe
fatigue (resulting in an inability to participate in activities)
·
Conjunctivitis
(pink-eye)
·
Chicken
Pox
·
Mumps
·
Measles
·
Rubella
·
Diphtheria
·
Polio
·
Lice (although technically a parasite. Exclusion is necessary until medical
treatment begins)
Many of the above diseases can be
vaccinated against. Please talk to your Doctor about updating your
child’s vaccination record.
If an illness is observed, the
information is recorded along with the child’s temperature. If the illness is perceived as mild, the parent will be informed and
allowed to decide the course of action (to remain in the daycare or to be taken
home). If the illness seems more serious, the parent will be
notified and the child must be sent home.
In severe circumstances (such as anaphylactic shock, loss
of consciousness, unexplained bleeding, etc.) emergency medical personnel will be contacted immediately and the child may be taken to
hospital. The parent or alternate emergency contact will be informed of the
child’s condition and the information provided by the emergency medical team.
Section 4 (f)
Anaphylaxis Policy
Anaphylactic shock is an extremely severe histamine
reaction caused by an allergy. Anaphylactic shock can be fatal, as one of its
affects is to cause the lungs and throat to constrict or close, resulting in
suffocation. Anaphylactic shock is treated with
epinephrine, delivered via Epi-Pen. This forces the adrenaline in the body to
counteract the histamine and alleviate the symptoms. However, medical attention
will be required immediately, despite the administration of epinephrine
(usually one or two doses) to ensure symptoms will not persist.
Food allergies are the most common cause of anaphylaxis.
Nut allergies, for example, can be so severe that just having an open jar of
peanut butter in the room can cause a severe reaction. As a precaution, nut
products will not be permitted in the daycare.
All parents are required to fill out the Child Information
Form found in section 10. This includes all information pertaining to
allergies, including food allergies, that might affect
your child while in the daycare.
Some food allergies are mild, so finding an alternative
for the afflicted child while still providing the food for other children is
often sufficient. However, if the allergy is severe, the food item will be removed from the menu and all parents in the program
will be informed to avoid bringing the allergen into the daycare environment.
Section 4 (g)
Each child’s allergy information will be
posted in the kitchen. This procedure serves as a reminder during meal
preparation of which children are to avoid certain foods. In addition, the
information provided on the Child Information Form will be included in a record
stored by the daycare exit and the attendance binder. The attendance binder is carried outside during outdoor play and activities. This
ensures that all relevant medical information can be communicated to emergency
personnel should a medical emergency occur.
New allergies can appear at any time. An individual may
not have any allergic reaction to a substance one day, and suddenly be
afflicted with an allergic reaction the next. It is therefore imperative that
all children receive baseline health observations periodically throughout the day.
These observations can help determine if a new allergy has appeared so that
parents can be informed, the medical record can be
adjusted and the exposure to the allergen can be eliminated.
Section 4 (h)
Administration of Medication
Medication can be fatal if used incorrectly. Both
prescription and non-prescription drugs will be stored safely out of children’s
reach. Any medication requiring refrigeration will be kept
in a locked container in the refrigerator.
Prescription medication will not be
administered to children without a copy of the prescription note from
the child’s Doctor, or a letter provided by the child’s Doctor. The container
provided for the daycare must be the original container as supplied by the
pharmacy, which includes the child’s name, dosage information and the Doctor’s
contact information. Any medication not provided in its original container will not be administered to the child. Should any questions
or concerns arise, the Doctor listed on the medication container may be contacted.
It is especially helpful if parents would communicate the
reason for the medication, however if disclosure is a source of discomfort, the
Doctor’s notice will be deemed sufficient. Parents are strongly encouraged to
talk to their child’s Doctor to ensure their vaccination record is up to date.
Section 4 ( i)
Non-prescription medication will only be
administered with the authorization of the child’s Doctor. The
medication must be provided for the daycare in its original store container
(Tupperware containers and Zip-Loc bags will not be accepted) along with a
Doctor’s note containing the recommended dosage. Requests to administer
non-prescription medication (even Tylenol) to a child without a Doctor’s
recommendation will not be granted.
Section 4 (j)
Parents will be required to fill out a short questionnaire
when leaving medication at the daycare. It must include the medication dosage
requirements and frequency, any signs or symptoms to watch out for (possible
complications) and the Doctor’s contact information.
Issues of Physical
Safety
Section 4 (k)
Indoor
The daycare space will be kept
free of clutter and trip hazards as much as possible. “Tidy-up” time will be held at scheduled intervals and periodically throughout
the day as needed.
Unbreakable, microwave and dishwasher safe dishes and
cutlery are used exclusively for the daycare. All used
dishes are sanitized in the dishwasher on a daily
basis.
Running inside is strongly discouraged. The use of indoor shoes
is encouraged to reduce the risk of slipping and foot injury while engaged in
indoor activities. Indoor shoes should be worn indoors, separate from outdoor
shoes, to reduce contamination of the indoor environment from germs and
pollutants found outside.
Hazardous materials (such as knives, cleaning chemicals,
etc.) will be stored out of the reach of children. Toys that contain small
removable parts serve as a choke hazard for young children. Any toy deemed
unsafe will not be permitted for use. In the case
where a child brings a toy deemed unsafe, the toy will be stored away safely
and sent home with the parent.
The majority of food preparation is
completed in the evening before the business day. Therefore, the use of
the stove and the oven is minimized. This keeps
attention primarily on the children and less on food preparation. In addition,
this drastically reduces the risk of fire and burn injuries.
Section 4 (l)
Outdoor
Trips to the park or other outdoor entertainment areas will be made with extreme caution. Children old enough to
walk are encouraged to walk a few feet ahead in pairs. Children not yet capable
of walking distances are transported in a stroller.
A cell phone is always carried
when making outdoor trips. Parents are encouraged to call this number if there
is no answer at the daycare. A first aid kit, an emergency contact list,
important medical information, accident reporting forms, and an attendance list
are always carried on outdoor trips. Should an
emergency occur, this information ensures all crucial information is communicated to emergency workers.
Visits to the park will prompt a quick but thorough
inspection before the children begin their play. Hazardous materials will be removed from the area, if possible. If equipment is damaged or if the hazards are not resolvable, the group
will return to the daycare. If an alternate location can be
plotted, the new route will be posted (see section 8) and outdoor play
may be extended to compensate the time.
Section 4 (m)
Injuries
Young children continually develop balance, coordination
and motor control. Until these skills are refined, minor accidents, scrapes,
bumps and bruises are quite common. More severe injuries cause a child a great
deal of distress and pain and may need the attention of a medical professional.
Regardless of the severity of the injury, all observed
injuries will be logged and reported. These reports must be signed by the parent within 24 hours.
A copy will be given to the parent on the next
business day. These reports can be broken down into three categories:
Pre-Arrival Injury
Report – If a
child enters the daycare with an injury, the observation will
be documented. If the injury is moderate to
severe (such as a sprain, swelling or open wound) first aid will be immediately
administered and then the parent or alternate contact will be notified. If the
injury is minor (such as a small scrape or bruise) then the observation will be recorded and shared with the parent upon pick-up.
Minor Injury Report – If a child sustains a minor
injury (such as a scrape, mild scratch or bruise) while at daycare, first aid
will be administered and the occurrence will be documented. This documentation will be shared with the parent upon pick-up.
Serious Injury
Report – Moderate
to severe injuries require immediate first-aid treatment. Moderate injuries may
include “a bump on the head” which will require a cold compress, for example.
After the injury is documented, the parent will be
informed and offered the option of taking the child home. A serious injury such
as severe head trauma, unconsciousness, large lacerations and joints or limbs
that appear broken will immediately be administered first aid and emergency
medical personnel will be contacted. The parent or
alternate emergency contact person will be contacted
with the details provided by the medical team (such as the hospital location).
An injury report will then be written, which will
require the parent’s signature within 24 hours.
When minor to moderate injuries occur, the daycare or play
space will be inspected to determine any environmental
factors as a cause. If a serious injury should occur, a rigorous inspection
will take place to determine the cause and eliminate it to reduce further risk.
Section 4 (n)
If a parent is not present to sign an injury report within
the 24 hour period, the parent must sign the report
upon their next visit.