Learning Log 4/27, 4/28

Why do we need safety policies?

To keep children safe

PoliciestoProtectChildren

Justaschildrenneedwarmblanketstoprotectthemfromthecold,theyalsoneedpoliciesto
guaranteeotheraspectsoftheirsafetyandhealthwhentheyarecaredforawayfromhome.
Selectoneofthesafetyandhealthtopicstoinvestigate.Readaboutthetopicinyourtextbooks.
Thenwriteontheblanketapolicyforachildcarefacilitytoaddressthistopic.Choosefrom
thesetopics:
Safety
1.Supervision
2.Adult-childratios
3.Safeenvironment
Health
1.Medicalexaminationsforstaff
2.Medicalcareinformationforchildren
3.Givingmedications
4.Careformildlyillchildren
5.Exclusionofillchildren
6.Sanitarypractices
7.Parentaccess

SanitaryPractices:HannahsDaycareCenter

Atmydaycarecenter,Ihavehighexpectationsforsanitarypractices.Beforethetablesareused
foranything,theyarecleanedwithcleaningsolutions.Servinglunchtheserverwillwashtheir
handsverywellandthenwearglovestomakesuretheyaren'tcomingintodirectcontactwiththe
foodoranythingelse.Thiswillkeepgermsandanythingelseverylimited.Thebathroomiscleaned
aftereverythrowup,diarrhea,andetc.asidefromthatitwouldbecleanedaftereveryuselikea
simpleclean.Iwouldmakesurethattoysarewipeddownorsoakedincleaningsolutionatleastonce
aweekoraftertheyaresoiled.Thefloorswouldbesweptandmoppedeveryotherdayunlessit
neededitforacertainreason.Iwouldjustmakesurethatsanitarypracticewerebeingusedwell
andthingsstayedcleansothatcleanwouldbesafefromsickness.

WhatDoestheHandbookSay?

UsingthesamesafetyandhealthtopicthatyouusedforPoliciestoProtectChildren,consultthe
NCChildCareHandbooktofindpoliciesthatregulateNorthCarolinachildcarecenterswithregard
toyourtopic.Keepinmindthatpoliciesinthishandbookarelicensingstandardsthatmustbemet
inordertooperatelegallyasachildcarefacility.AftercheckingtheHandbook,completethis
form.
YourHealthorSafetyTopic:
Onwhatpagesdidyoufindstatutes/requirementsthataddressthistopic?
CopytherequirementbelowasfoundintheHandbook.
(a)ChildCareoperatorsshallinstructemployeesthathandwashingisthesinglemostimportantline
of
defenseinpreventingthetransmissionofdisease-causingorganisms.Employeesshallwashhands
upon
reportingforwork;beforeandafterhandlingfood;beforebottlefeedingorservingtoother
children;before
handlingcleanutensilsorequipment;aftertoiletingorhandlingofbodyfluids(e.g.,saliva,nasal
secretions,vomitus,feces,urine,blood,secretionsfromsores,pustulantdischarge);afterdiaper
changing;
afterhandlingsoileditemssuchasgarbage,mops,clothsandclothing;afterbeingoutdoors;after
handling
animalsoranimalcages;andafterremovingdisposablegloves.Theuseofhandsanitizingproducts
does
notreplacetherequirementforhandwashing.However,exceptfordiapering,foodpreparation,and
food
service,handsanitizingproductsmaybeusedinlieuofhandwashingwhileanemployeeis
supervising
childrenoutdoorsifhandsarewasheduponreturningindoors.
(b)Childrenshallwashhandsuponarrivalatthechildcarecenter;aftereachdiaperchangeorvisit
tothe
toilet;beforeeatingmealsorsnacks;beforeandafterwaterplay;afteroutdooractivity;andafter
handling
animalsoranimalcages.Exceptfordiaperingandbeforeeatingmealsorsnacks,handsanitizing
products
maybeusedinlieuofhandwashingwhilechildrenareoutdoorsifhandsarewasheduponreturning
indoors.
(c)Handwashingproceduresshallinclude:
(1)usingliquidsoapandtemperedwater;
(2)rubbinghandsvigorouslywithsoapandtemperedwaterfor15seconds;
(3)washingallsurfacesofthehands,toincludethebacksofhands,palms,wrists,under
fingernailsandbetweenfingers;
(4)rinsingwellfortenseconds;
(5)dryinghandswithapapertowelorotherhand-dryingdevice;and
(6)turningofffaucetwithapapertowelorothermethodwithoutrecontaminatinghands.

Now,paraphrasetherequirement---i.e.,writeitinyourownwords.
Itsaysthatsanitationandhandwashingisaveryimportantfactorinworkbecauseitprevents
spreadinggerms,disease,andetc.Itsaysthatsanitizerisn'tthesameashandwashingsoit's
importanttostillwashyourhandsafterusingsanitizer.Italsosaysthatchildrenneedtowash
theirhandsoftenaswellwhenenteringthecenterand/orcomingintocontactwithanythinglike
snotandetc.Childrenalsohavetowashhandsbeforelunchandallofthat.Itthentellshowto
properlywashyourhandstomakesureyouwashawayallgermsandanythingelse.

Now,comparetheHandbookcitationwiththepolicyyouwroteinPoliciestoProtectChildren.
Howaretheysimilar?Howdotheydiffer?
Theyaresimilarbecausetheybothtalkabouthandwashingandsanitationpurposes.Theydiffer
becausethehandbookgoesintoalittemoredetailandexplanation.Italwaysprovidesmuchmore
informationthenIprovidedinmybriefsummaryofmypolicy.

Imaginethatyouarethedirectorofachildcarecenter.Whatchallengesdoyouthinkyoumight
faceinmeetingthesestandards?
Ithinktherearemanychallengesyoucouldface.Likechildrennotwashingtheirhandsaslongas
theyshouldorrubbingthemtogetherreallywell.Youmanyrunintoproblemslikenothavingasink
aroundifitisafieldtripandkidsaretouchinganimalstheremayonlybehandsanitizer.