PAO-57: Child Illness & Infectious Disease Prevention Policy

Our first priority is to provide a healthy, safe learning environment for all children. Our policies and procedures ensure that we keep children, family members and staff members as healthy as possible.

Ill Child
A child will be sent home as soon as possible if any of the following is experienced: an illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in activities (as determined by the staff); an illness results in a greater need for care than the staff can reasonably provide without compromising the health or safety of other children in the classroom; or a child is experiencing any of the following conditions:

• Fever accompanied by behavior changes or other signs/symptoms of illness
• Signs/symptoms of severe illness, including: lethargy, uncontrolled coughing, inexplicable irritability or persistent crying, difficulty breathing, and/or wheezing
• Diarrhea (not associated with diet changes or medications) until diarrhea stops or the continued diarrhea is deemed not be infectious by a licensed healthcare professional.
• Blood in stools not explainable by dietary change, medication, or hard stools
• Vomiting (two more instances in past 24 hours) until vomiting resolves or until a health care provider determines the cause for vomiting is not contagious and the child is not in danger of dehydration
• Persistent abdominal pain (continues more than 2 hours) or intermittent pain associated with fever or other signs/symptoms of illness
• Mouth sores with drooling, unless a health care provider determines the sores are not contagious
• Rash with fever or behavior change, until a physician determines that these symptoms do not indicate a communicable disease
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis) until after treatment has been initiated
• Head lice, from the end of the day until after first treatment
• Scabies, until after treatment has been completed
• Tuberculosis, until a health care provider states that the child is on appropriate therapy and can attend child care
• Impetigo, until 24 hours after treatment has been initiated
• Strep throat, until 24 hours after initial antibiotic treatment and cessation of fever
• Chicken pox, until all sores have dried and crusted (usually 6 days)
• Pertussis, until 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment has been completed
• Mumps, until 9 days after onset of symptoms
• Hepatitis A virus, until 1 week after onset of illness
• Measles, until 4 days after onset of rash
• Rubella, until 6 days after onset of rash
• Unspecified respiratory tract illness accompanied by another illness which requires exclusion
• Herpes simplex, with uncontrollable drooling
• K-12 uses the OSPI infection disease control guide and Grant County Health District for current standards and guidance. PK will follow this same guidance. See WAC-110-300-0205.

 A child who becomes ill while at the center is removed from the classroom in order to limit exposure of other children to the illness. An ill child will be sent to the office to wait for their parent / guardian to arrive. For this reason, we ask families to make every effort to pick up a sick child as soon as possible.

Tiger Cub Preschool reserves the right to make the final determination of exclusion due to illness. Any exceptions to the illness policy will require a written note from a licensed healthcare professional stating that the child is not contagious.

Notice of Exposure & Reporting Disease
If children are exposed to a communicable disease, a notice will be posted at the door to the classroom. If a child or anyone in a family’s household becomes ill with a communicable disease they are asked to notify the Center Manager immediately.

In the event a child is reported to have a communicable disease, the preschool will notify school families.

Hand Washing
Frequent hand washing with soap and warm, running water is the most effective way to reduce and prevent the spread of illnesses commonly found in child care settings such as the flu, diarrhea and pink eye. Parents are encouraged to assist their child in the hand washing process upon arrival. Other times your child (and staff members) will be expected to wash their hands:

• Upon arriving at the center or when changing classrooms
• After each diaper change or using the toilet
• Before and after meal times
• Before and after administering medication
• After handling bodily fluids (mucus, blood vomit)
• Before and after using the sensory table
• After coming indoors from the playground
• After handling pets and other animals
• After cleaning or handling garbage

Warm, running water (no colder than 60 degrees F) and soap must be used. Hands must be rubbed vigorously for at least 20 seconds, including the backs of hands, between fingers, under nails, and under any jewelry. A disposable paper towel should be used to dry hands and turn off the faucet. Help reinforce the importance of hand washing by encouraging frequent hand washing at home as well.

Medications
Prescription and over-the-counter medications must be given to a staff member in the original container, clearly labeled with the child’s full name and birth date. Staff will not administer any medication without a signed Medication Authorization Form. Forms can be obtained from the Center Manager.

Medications are stored in a locked box (refrigerated medications) or in a high cabinet (non-refrigerated medications) while in use at the center. Rescue medications (inhalers and Epi-Pens) may be stored in the classroom within easy reach of all staff members or in the backpack while outside. The Medication Authorization Form must remain with the medication at all times. Unused medications must be immediately returned to the family and will not be stored at the center.

Medications are administered only by Tiger Cub staff as directed by the school nurse. When a medication is given, the staff member will document the type of medication administered, the dosage, and the time it was given.

Adoption Date:  First Reading 4.23, Adopted 5.23