Parent Handbook Health Procedures
Sick Children

Your child's health form must be filled out by your physician and must be returned before the first day of school. Children must have a complete physical examination each year. Required inoculations and immunizations must be up to date. Immunizations required by the Department of Health and FDC&F are Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis, and measles.

  • If your child's medical information should change during the course of the year (s/he develops an allergy, is put on medication, etc.) you must notify your child's teacher in writing.
  • If your child will not be attending school because s/he is ill, please notify the school.
  • Children attending MAB are expected to be well enough to participate in all activities including outdoor play.
  • Children who become ill during the day will be allowed to rest in the office until the parent arrives. One staff member will be assigned to observe the child and be sure of her comfort and safety. If and when a child displays a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, he/she will be required to be retrieved from the school. Parents will be contacted to rely this, and have them pick up the child in question.

Please do not send your child to school on days when any of the following symptoms are present

  • fever
  • rash
  • cough
  • discharge of discolored mucus from nose or eyes
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting
  • sore throat
  • lice
 
Administering Medication

No non-prescription medication may be administered by school staff. Prscription medication may be administered to a child with written permission from the parent and the physician. The prescription must be specific for the child in care and in the original bottle with the written order of the physician not more than one year old. The physician's instructions for dosage must be followed exactly as prescribed on the label of the medication.

Medications must be properly stored out of the reach of children. All unused medications will be returned to the parent or disposed of in a way that is completely safe and out of the reach of children at any time. MAB will keep a record of all medications administered to children. This medication log form will be kept and put into the child's permanent file. Do Not send any medication in your child's school bag or lunch box. If a medication is to be administered by an MAB staff member, you are responsible to bring it to the front office, with the corresponding forms.

Topical medications such as lotions, petroleum jelly, and sun screens require written permission which is valid for one year.

   
Allergies
Parents must notify the office of all known allergies.
   
Managing Infectious Disease

Children attending MAB are expected to be well enough to participate in all activities, including outdoor play.

If a child becomes ill at the program with symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, or lice, the school will call the parent or emergency contact person to pick up the child as soon as possible.

Children with symptoms of other contagious diseases, including strep throat, conjunctivitis, impetigo, or lice will be excluded from the program until 24 hours after prescribed treatment has begun.

A child with symptoms of contagious disease will be given a place to rest, separate from other children until he/she is picked up by a parent or someone designated by his/her parents to do so. One staff member will be assigned the responsibility to monitor the child in accordance with FDC&F ratio requirements.

Children with head or body lice must be treated by a physician before they may return (All clothing and belongings must be sent home for treatment).

   
Notification of Contagious Disease
MAB will notify parents of any contagious disease at school. Notification will be made via use of form letters from the Health and Safety in Child Care book and posted in the lobby and by the classroom doors. Parents must remember to notify school officials if their child has a contagious condition.
   
Return to the Program
Children who, in the opinion of the staff, may have a contagious condition will be excluded from the program until a physician indicates in writing that it is safe for the child to return. Should there be additional questions about treatment; Department of Public Health may be contacted about the decision on a child's return to the program. Children with lice must be free of lice and eggs for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school. Children beginning antibiotic treatment for contagious disease should have treatment for 24 hours before returning. MAB requires that children be free of fever and vomiting for 24 hours before their return to the classroom. This DOES NOT mean overnight, but a full 24 hour period.
   
Handwashing Procedures

Handwashing is the first line of defense against infectious disease. Staff and children are required to wash their hands at the following times:

  • Upon arrival at school,
  • Before eating or handling food,
  • After going to the bathroom or assisting in toileting,
  • After touching body fluids (blood, mucous, feces, urine, vomits, etc.),
  • After handling pets or their equipment, and
  • After any cleaning activities.
   
Sanitation Guidelines for Infection Control

The following items will be disinfected daily:

  • Toilets and Toilet Seats,
  • Sinks and Faucets,
  • Non-porous Floors,
  • Cloth Towels,
  • Mops,
  • Countertops, and
  • Eating Tables.

Personal items such as blankets, fabric toys, or hats will be sent home at least monthly to be washed thoroughly with a disinfectant bleach solution. Personal items, such as bedding, combs, and towels should not be shared and must be labeled. Soiled items going home will be sealed in a plastic bag and kept out of reach of children.

   
Monitoring the Environment
ANY POTENTIAL HAZARDS WILL BE REMOVED BEFORE CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE SPACE. CHILDREN WILL BE SUPERVISED BY A STAFF MEMBER AT ALL TIMES. ALL TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (INCLUDING CLEANING MATERIALS) WILL BE KEPT AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND FROM ANY FOOD ITEMS.