LearningLog4/27,4/28

Policies to Protect Children

Just as children need warm blankets to protect them from the cold, they also need policies to
guarantee other aspects of their safety and health when they are cared for away from home.
Select one of the safety and health topics to investigate. Read about the topic in your textbooks.
Then write on the blanket a policy for a child care facility to address this topic. Choose from
these topics:
Safety
1.
Supervision
2.
Adult-child ratios

3. Safe environment
Health
1.
Medical examinations for staff
2.
Medical care information for children
3.
Giving medications
4.
Care for mildly ill children
5.
Exclusion of ill children
6.
Sanitary practices
7.
Parent access

AtBeddingfieldDayCareCenter,followingsanitarypracticesisvery
important.Irequiremystafftopracticepropersanitationineverythingthey
do.TherulesIexpectmystafftofolloware:
1. Oncetheywalkinsidethechildcarecenter,staffmembersareto
washtheirhands.
2. Theyshouldn'ttouchanything,orthechildren,unlesstheirhandsare
washed.
3. Theyshouldsanitizeeverything,includingtables,thebathroom,door
knobs,andtoysneedtobewipeddown.
4. Childrenmustwashtheirhandswhenenteringthebuildingand
reenteringfromoutside.

What Does the Handbook Say?

Using the same safety and health topic that you used for Policies to Protect Children, consult the
NC Child Care Handbook
to find policies that regulate North Carolina child care centers with regard
to your topic. Keep in mind that policies in this handbook are licensing standards that must be met
in order to operate legally as a child care facility. After checking the Handbook, complete this
form.
Your Health or Safety Topic : Handwashing
On what pages did you find statutes/requirements that address this topic? Page 3
Copy the requirement below as found in the Handbook.
15A NCAC 18A .2803 HANDWASHING (a) Child Care operators shall in struct employees that
handwashing is the single most important line of defense in preventing the transmission of
disease-causing organisms. Employees shall wash hands upon reporting for work before and after
handling food before bottle feeding or serving to other children before handling clean utensils o r
equipment after toileting or handling of body fluids ( e.g., saliva, nasal secretions, vomitus, feces,
urine, blood, secretions from sores, pustulant discharge) after diaper changing after handling
soiled items such as garbage, mops, cloths and clothing after being outdoors after handling animals
or animal cages and after removing disposable gloves. The use of hand sanitizing products does not
replace the requirement for handwashing. However, except for diapering, food preparation, and
food service, hand sanitizing products may b e used in lieu of handwashing while an employee is
supervising children outdoors if hands are washed upon returning indoors. (b) Children shall wash
hands upon arrival at the child care center after each diaper change or visit to the toilet before
eating meals or snacks before and after water play after outdoor activity and after handling
animals or animal cages. Except for diapering and before eating meals or snacks, hand sanitizing
products may be used in lieu of hand washing while children are outdoors i f hands are washed upon
returning indoors. (c) Handwashing procedures shall include: (1) using liquid soap and tempered
water (2) rubbing hands vigorously with soap and tempered water for 15 seconds (3) washing all
surfaces of the hands, to include the backs of hands, palms, wrists, under fingernails and between
fingers (4) rinsing well for ten seconds (5) drying hands with a paper towel or other hand-drying
device and (6) turning off faucet with a paper towel or other method without recontaminating
hands.

Now, paraphrase the requirement --- i.e., write it in your own words.
In child care centers, handwashing is really important because of the diseases that can be
transmitted when you don't wash your hands. Employees should always wash their hands at all times.

They should wash their hands when entering the child care center, when serving food to the
children, and also after changing children.

Now, compare the Handbook citation with the policy you wrote in Policies to Protect Children.
How are they similar? How do they differ? My policy and i

Imagine that you are the director of a child care center. What challenges do you think you might
face in meeting these standards?