NORTHWEST Child Development Centers

NORTHWEST Child Development Centers

Health Care Procedures

Health Care Consultant:

Christine McMahon

Heywood Health Center for Women

Gardner, MA

978-630-5051

Emergency Numbers:

Emergency911

Fire911 (978-534-6544)

Police911 (978-534-4383)

Poison Control1-800-222-1222

Leominster Hospital978-466-2000

Illness and Emergency Procedures

In the event that a child becomes ill, the child will be allowed to rest in a quiet area away from the other children. Parent(s) will be notified and must remove the child from the premises.

In the event that the child requires emergency treatment, an ambulance will be called to transport the child to the hospital. The parent(s) will be notified of the emergency and instructed to meet at the hospital. The staff will sign the release forms at the hospital in accordance with the Authorization and Consent form signed by the parents, if the parents can not be notified.

In the event that the parents can not be contacted, one of the persons the parent(s) has designated as an Emergency Pick-up person will be contacted. In the event that the parent(s), or guardian, or other persons designated can not be notified, staff will proceed to remedy the problem and contact these persons as soon as possible.

During field trips, the above procedures will be carried out by the staff, and the staff will have in their possessions, copies of the Authorization and Consent form.

The licensee shall insure that all staff who gives direct care to children anytime during the day, as well as non-teaching administrators holds a current certification in Pediatric First Aid and C.P.R. by the American Heart or equivalent training. Newly hired staff who does not have a current First Aid and CPR certification shall obtain such certification within six months of employment. The health care consultant shall review and approve the first aid and C.P.R. training to determine that the training is appropriate to the center.

The licensee will assure that at least one staff member who is currently certified in First Aid and CPR for children is available on-site whenever children are present.

First Aid Equipment and Procedures

The center maintains in a cabinet in the kitchen clearly marked “First Aid”, first aid equipment and supplies as follows; band aids, gauze, rolled gauze, adhesive tape, cotton balls, disposable non- latex gloves, instant cold pack, scissors, tweezers, thermometer, and CPR mouth guard.

The first aid equipment identified above will be utilized in accordance with first aid training and procedures. The Director will inventory the first aid equipment on an ongoing basis.

There will be a telephone available on the premises for center use at all times. Cell phones will also be readily available.

Evacuation Procedures

There are five exit doors with posted signs that may be used to evacuate the building.

There are three exit doors from each room in the school, each having posted exit signs.

Fire alarms, smoke detectors, heat detector and CO2 detectors are located throughout the building. Alarms are all connected to a central monitoring station. The system is inspected yearly.

Evacuation drills will be conducted every month, at various times of the program day. The children will be directed to the best route to follow when exiting the building. All children and staff will meet outside in designated areas. One staff member from each classroom will review roll call utilizing the daily attendance sheet to insure that all children are present and accounted for. A second staff will notify emergency services if warranted. The Director shall document the date, time and effectiveness of each drill.

See “Emergency Evacuation Policies”.

Injury Prevention Plan

All hazardous objects and substances are kept in a secure place out of the reach of children. All staff members monitor classrooms, playground areas, and equipment for deficiencies and discrepancies. Any hazards are immediately reported to the Director and promptly corrected.

When a staff member is required to administer first aid, an entry is made into the Injury Log located in the Director’s office. Instructions for completing forms are located in the log.

In the event of an injury to a child, staff members are required to complete an injury report form, and a copy of the form is placed in the child’s folder and a copy is also presented to the parent within 24 hours.

Infectious Disease Management

To minimize the potential spread of a suspected communicable infectious disease, the child will be isolated from all of the children at the center, under supervision, and the parent(s) will be notified.

Signs or symptoms that would necessitate the implementation of the above procedure include rash, discoloration, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, respiratory distress, and finally verbal complaints from a child.

If exclusion from other children is deemed necessary, the child will be allowed to rest in a supervised secluded area.

In the event that a specific infectious disease is identified, the parent must consult with the Director before the child will be allowed to reenter the center.

If a communicable infectious disease has been introduced to the center (such as measles, salmonella, etc.), parents will receive a written notice and be alerted to symptoms to watch for along with recommended procedures to follow in infection is suspected.

Infection Control Plan

All staff and children must wash their hands with liquid soap and water, using friction. Hands must be dried with disposable towels. Staff and children shall wash their hands at least at the following times:

1.Before eating or handling food

2.After toileting or diapering

3.After coming into contact with body fluids and discharges (coughing or sneezes)

4.After handling animals or their equipment; after cleaning cage or tank

5.Before the use of water table or play dough.

In addition staff must wash their hands:

1.Before and after administration of medication

2.After performing cleaning tasks, handling trash or using cleaning products

All equipment (tables, chairs, toys, etc.) used by staff and children will be cleaned on a regular basis as dictated by usage. Toilets, toilet seats, sinks, faucets, water fountains, will be cleaned and disinfected at least once per day. Rest mats will be cleaned and disinfected once each week. The center will follow the sanitizing and disinfecting guidelines put out by EEC. Mixing sanitizing solutions and the items each solution is designed to disinfect will be strictly enforced at the center. All solutions (#1, #2, #3 and #4) are prepared with 5.25% available chlorine as hypochlorite. All disinfectants shall be stored in a secure place and out of reach of the children.

Plan for Meeting the Individual Needs of Mildly Ill Children while In Care

Children that display symptoms of illness while in care shall be kept quiet and allowed to rest in a remote area of the classroom under the direct supervision of an individual staff member. Parents will be contacted and advised of the child’s condition.

Food and drink will be provided to comfort the child but not in excess amounts as to further induce vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

Directed activities will be provided that are consistent with the child’s general condition.

Plan for Medication Administration

Each person who administers prescription or non-prescription medication to a child must be trained in the “5 Rights” which are:

1.Right Child

2.Right Medication

3.Right Dosage

4.Right Time

5.Right Method

Each person who administers medication (other than topical medication) must demonstrate competency in the administration of medication before being authorized to administer any medication. Each person who administers prescription or non-prescription medication to a child must be trained to verify and to document according to EEC regulations.

Medication, prescription or nonprescription, will not be dispensed without the written authorization from both the child’s doctor and the parent. Also topical creams or ointments will not be administered without the written consent of the parent.

When medication is dispensed by the staff, a record of the child’s name, type of medication, amount, date, time, and the staff person who dispensing the medication, will be kept on file in the medication log, which is on the back side of the “Authorization to Administer Medication” form.

The record of the above information will be kept in the child’s folder upon completion.

All medications, prescription and nonprescription, will be stored in a secure (locked) sanitary location, and refrigerated if necessary. All unused and or unneeded medications will be disposed of or returned to the parent.

IHCP Policy: (for chronic health conditions)

Educators must also be trained in the possible side effects of any medication that is administered to a child. This training can be done by the child’s health care practitioner or, with his/her written consent, given by the child’s parent or the agency’s health consultant that specifically addresses the child’s medical condition, medication and other treatment needs

In the event of any unanticipated administration of medication or unanticipated treatment for a non-life threatening condition required that we must make a reasonable attempt to contact the parent(s) prior to administering such unanticipated medication or beginning such unanticipated treatment, or, if the parent(s) cannot be reached in advance, as soon as possible after such medication or treatment is given. Proper documentation is required.

The agency may, with written parental consent and authorization of a licensed health care practitioner, develop and implement an individual health care plan that permits older school age children to carry their own inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors and use them as needed without the direct supervision of an educator. All educators must be aware of the contents and requirements of the child’s individual health care plan specifying how the inhaler or epinephrine auto-injector will be kept secure from access by other children in the program.

Whenever an individual health care plan provides for a child to carry his/her own medication, the agency will maintain on-site a back-up supply of the medication for use as needed (supplied by the child’s family).

Listed below is what should be found in the IHCP:

Prior to entry into the program or, (for a student who is already in the program, immediately after the diagnosis of a life-threatening allergic condition), the parent/guardian should meet with the educator to develop an IHCP.

The parent/guardian should work with the program to create a strategy for management of a child’s IHCP. The parent/guardian shall provide the following:

1.Licensed provider documentation of medication or allergy.

2.Medication orders, which must be renewed at least annually

3.Parent/guardian’s signed consent to administer all medications, or treatments.

4.The health care practitioner, or parent/guardian’s, signed consent to train educators on their child’s IHCP.

5.Description of the child’s allergic reactions, including triggers and warning signs.

6.A description of the student’s emotional response to the condition and need for support.

7.Name/telephone number of the student’s primary care provider and allergist.

8.Method to reach parent/parent designee should an emergency occur e.g., telephone, cell phone or beeper

.

The Center Director will initiate the IHCP development based on the information provided by the parent. The plan shall include the student’s name, specific chronic health conditions, warning signs of reactions and emergency treatment. The plan should include, but not limited to, risk reduction and emergency response at the following times: travel to and from school, before and after school programs, and field trips. The IHCP should be signed by the parent and by the student’s physician.

Plan for Meeting Specific Health Care Needs

All allergies are identified through the developmental history provided by each parent, and subsequently through the ongoing observation of the child for symptoms. All known allergies will be posted in each classroom and in the kitchen area (refrigerator door) accessible to all staff members.

All staff members are required to review the “known allergies list” to insure that a child does not inadvertently receive food, chemicals, substances, etc. that are known to cause allergic reactions. Any newly identified allergies will be added to the list and the director will verbally advise al staff members of the allergy.

Procedures for Identifying and Reporting Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect to the Department of Children and Families Services

Department of Children and Families

690 Mechanic St suite 100

Leominster, MA 0145

978-353-3600

All staff members are conscious of new and unusual marks that are inconsistent with normal child activities and behavior. Children are also queried about such bruises and other child parent interactions if deemed necessary.

Observation noted above are brought to the attention of the Director and documented by the child’s teacher. The date, location of the bruise, and any other notable observations are recorded and kept in the child’s file.

Suspected cases of abuse or neglect will be reported to the local Department of Children and Families by the staff within 24 hours.

Suspected cases of abuse or neglect originating at the center will be reported to the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care within 24 hours.

If there is an allegation of staff abuse or neglect, the agency will file a report according to agency Child Abuse/Neglect Policies.