Healthcare Policy
We work with families to keep children healthy, safe, and ready to participate fully in daily activities.
When a Child Is Sick
Children who are sick must stay home and only return to the center when they have returned to normal activity and are able to keep up with scheduled activities.
First Step will not allow children at the center if:
If a child develops a fever at the center, the child will be sent home and must remain home until fever free for 24 hours (without any fever reducers) before returning to the center. If a fever develops at the center, First Step will contact the parents immediately. A cot will be placed in the administration office for the child to rest, and a teacher or an administrator will remain with the child until a parent arrives.
A child with symptoms of Impetigo will be removed from the classroom and parents will be contacted immediately. The child will remain in the administrator's office with a teacher or administrator until a parent arrives. A child with Impetigo must stay home and can return to the center after being on antibiotics for 24 hours.
A child with symptoms of Conjunctivitis will be removed from the classroom and parents will be contacted immediately. The child will remain in the administration office with a teacher or administrator until a parent arrives. The child can return to the center after being on eye ointment for 24 hours and all the discharge from the eye or eyes is cleared up.
A child with vomiting symptoms will be removed from the classroom and a parent will be contacted immediately. The child will remain in the administrator's office with a teacher or administrator until a parent arrives. The child can return to the center when normal activity has been back for 24 hours.
A child with 2 bouts of diarrhea in one hour (foul smell and not contained in the diaper) will be sent home from the center. The child can return to the center when normal bowel activities have been back for 24 hours.
A child with Strep Throat must stay home and be on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to the center.
A child may attend the center with these symptoms if a note from the pediatrician is provided.
A child with symptoms of Scarlet Fever or Hand, Foot and Mouth must stay home. The child can return to the center with a note from their pediatrician stating that the child is not contagious and may participate in all activities.
A child with symptoms of Chicken Pox must stay home. The child may return to the center with a note from the pediatrician stating that the child is no longer contagious and is able to participate in all daily activities and all lesions are crusted over.
A child with head lice must stay home and can return to the center when lice-free and nit-free.
Parent Communication & Exclusion
Parents will be immediately informed by the administrator or a staff member if a child is ill. The child will be removed from his or her classroom and wait in the administratorās office until the parentsā arrival.
A cot will be provided for the child to rest if needed. All the childās belongings must be taken home and washed.
First Step will notify parents of symptoms of common illnesses and ask the parents for their cooperation in keeping the center healthy.
Teachers will increase cleaning in the classroom if a common illness is present at the center.
Infection Control
All staff and children shall wash their hands with liquid soap and running water at the following times:
- Before eating or handling food
- After changing a diaper or toileting
- After coming in contact with bodily fluids
Staff members are required to use disposable gloves if handling bodily fluids.
- Carpets will be washed/cleaned after departure of children.
- Used gloves will be thrown in a lined, covered container and staff will wash hands with soap and water after handling bodily fluids or blood.
- All clothing will be sealed in plastic containers/bags, labeled with the childās name, and returned to the parent at the end of the day.
Annual Training
First Step will hold training in infection control once per year. The Director or the health care consultant of the center will conduct the training.
During this training, staff members will be provided with handouts including all the information regarding:
- Hand washing for children and staff
- When to use disposable gloves and how to dispose used gloves
- Items that must be washed and disinfected daily
A training log will be signed by all participants and kept on file at the center.