In order to protect the children in our center and offer excellent childcare, we need to ensure

that we have policies in place addressing health and safety standards. Please help us by

cooperating with the following policies for dealing with sick children in a child care setting:

 

Please call the center if a child is going to be absent due to illness.

 

If your child has been diagnosed with something that may be contagious, we need to know so

other parents can be notified . Parents will be alerted if the children have been exposed to

anything contagious. In some instances a fact sheet will be provided so parents can be prepared

for what symptoms may appear, how it is treated, and how long the incubation period will be.

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Once parents are notified that the child has become ill during the day, they will be expected to

pick them up promptly. If parents cannot be reached or cannot leave work, we will need to

notify the people designated to pick the child up on their emergency contact card.

 

Please keep in mind that, although a child’s symptoms may subside, they may still not feel

well enough to return to the center. Children who cannot fully participate in center activities

should not return to care.

 

Our exclusion from care is based on recommendations from the public health department and

include, but are not limited to the following:

 

Fever:  Children should be kept home if they run a temperature of 100 degrees or more. They

may return to care after being fever free without medication for fever reduction for at least 24

hours. Please do not medicate children to bring a fever down in order for them to attend.

Children must be free of fever and other symptoms without medication for twenty-four (24)

hours prior to return to school.

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Vomiting:  A child who cannot hold stomach contents down, must be excluded from care until

they have had normal meals and the vomiting has subsided for at least 24 hours.

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Diarrhea:  This is defined as loose watery stools that cannot be contained. If a child has three

stools in a period of 2 to 3 hours that cannot be contained in the diaper or clothing, parents will

be notified. Numerous germs can be passed through feces and if it is uncontainable there is

danger that it will spread, potentially affecting several children. The child may return to care

once they have normal stools while eating regular meals.

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Nose & Eye discharge:  Children who have thick, green, excessive discharge will need to be

excluded from care until they have seen a doctor and it is under control.

 

Conjunctivitis: Commonly known as pink eye, this is a condition that is very contagious. A child whose eyes are inflamed, red, itchy or draining with mucus needs to be removed from care. They may return once the child is on medication for 24 hours and there is no further drainage.

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Open blisters or sores:  Any open place on a child’s skin that is bleeding or oozes bodily fluid can be hazardous. The child needs to be excluded until the skin is crusted over.

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Skin rashes:  All skin rashes need to have a doctor’s note indicating the child is not contagious in order to return to care.

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Sore Throat:  A child who has a sore throat especially if accompanied by fever or swollen glands

should be kept at home. A child with strep throat must have had at least 24 hours of an antibiotic to return to the center.

 

Respiratory Symptoms:  This includes difficulty in breathing, or continuous coughing to the point that the child cannot rest comfortably. Administration will give parents a copy when they are called to pick up that child. If the child is sent home one day because symptoms appear that require exclusion from care ,they may not return the following day. Please understand we do not have adequate facilities and staff to meet the needs of both the ill child and the other children in the group. Therefore we have no choice but to exclude ill children from group care. This also serves to protect all the children and staff members in the center from contagious

diseases. Your cooperation in this regard is highly appreciated.

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