Health topics on this page:

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Your Child's Health

We depend on the parent's assessment of their child's health before sending him/her to school. Germs are spread quickly in child care environments.

  • Parents are requested to contact the preschool if their child acquires a contagious condition so we can notify staff and other families.
  • If there is an occurrence of a communicable disease, a notice will be posted outside the main entrance door (south door) of the preschool. The notice will include the communicable condition, the symptoms associated with the condition and the period of communicability. A note will also be sent home.
  • Parents are asked to keep their child home if there has been a fever, vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours (this is a very contagious time for these conditions).
  • If a child has a fever of 100 degrees or higher, the child will need to stay home until fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. If the child develops a fever of 100 degrees at preschool, the child will be separated from the group and cared for in a quiet area, and the parents will be contacted to pick up the child.
  • If a child has head lice, scabies, impetigo, ring worm, pink eye, etc., the child may not return to preschool until 24 hours after treatment has begun.
  • If a child gets chicken pox, the child must stay at home for one week after onset (when lesions are crusted over).
  • If a child has strep throat, the child must stay home for 24 hours after the initial medication.

Health and safety issues are extremely important at the Grinnell College Preschool. We want to provide a safe and healthy environment for all children and staff. Each child must have current physical examination (within 12 months) signed by a physician, and a current certificate of immunization prior to attending Grinnell College Preschool. Health and safety information collected from families will be kept confidential and locked in a file cabinet. Files are updated quarterly. Parents and legal guardians may have access to the records upon request. Listed below are health and safety guidelines we use at preschool:

  • All staff will know about the health issues for each child.
  • As we greet each child at the door we will check for illness or injury that could affect the child's participation in the program activities.
  • All staff will follow proper hand washing procedures.
  • All staff will use universal precautions to prevent infections.
  • Children who become ill at school will be separated from the group and cared for in a quiet area until they are picked up.
  • Parents will be notified immediately when a serious illness or injury occurs.
  • If necessary, Midwest Ambulance and the child's physician will be contacted.
  • All accidents of any kind will be reported verbally and in writing to families.
  • All staff are familiar with evacuation/emergency procedures.
  • All staff complete Bloodborne Pathogens annual training.
  • All staff will be trained in CPR, First Aid, and Child Abuse Reporting.
  • See also the section on Physical, Emotional, and Dental Emergencies.

Medication

Preschool staff typically do not give medication that is given at home. If there are special needs, illnesses, allergies, respiratory problems, or other situations, we would give those medications. The medications need to be in the original, child resistant container and a permission form will need to be signed to give authorization to dispense the medication. The container must contain the child’s name, pharmacist name, name and strength of the medication, the date the prescription was filled, the name of the physician, the expiration date and the administration, storage and disposal instructions.

The teaching staff will participate in an on-line medication dispensing training. A medication log will be maintained by the teaching staff to record the instructions, dosage, and reactions to medication.

Biting

Biting is a very common behavior among children birth to three years. Biting is a form of communication. Biting is almost always a response to the child’s needs not being met or coping with a challenge or stress. Grinnell College Preschool understands the developmental stages of children and tries to prevent biting behaviors by providing caring relationships with children; providing a supportive environment; having regular routines and schedules; making transitions as smooth as possible; anticipating and redirecting children known to bite; reminding children of the expectations for not biting; giving children something else to chew on to prevent biting; and giving the child crunchy snacks for oral stimulation.

If biting continues on a regular basis:

  • adults can help children use words to express their anger and frustration and to express their needs and desires;
  • adults may redirect the child before he/she has a chance to bite and help the child to find an appropriate activity to engage in or something to chew on;
  • if a child bites another child, he/she will be separated from the other child and comfort will be given to the child who was bitten;
  • first aid procedures will be applied:
    • The child’s wound will be washed with soap and water.
    • Bleeding will be stopped with pressure
    • If there is swelling or bruising, ice will be applied
  • the child who was biting will then help and comfort the child who was bitten;
  • parents will be informed of the incident with an incident reporting form;
  • a conference will be held with parents if the biting behavior continues.

Cleaning and Sanitization

Grinnell College Preschool will maintain a clean and sanitary facility. The custodian will come in daily and clean and sanitize the surfaces of the preschool.

Staff will be trained in cleaning techniques, proper use of gloves as barriers, Hazardous Materials disposal as required by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The MSDS notebook is kept in the cleaning supply closet, listing all chemicals used in cleaning the preschool.

Routine cleaning will follow the Cleaning and Sanitization Frequency Table in the QPPS manual. A checklist will be completed as indicated in the table.

Toys that have been placed in a child’s mouth are placed in the kitchen so they can be cleaned and sanitized later. Toys and tables will be cleaned and sanitized with a bleach and water solution made fresh daily. Tables will be cleaned and sprayed with the bleach water solution, left on for 2 minutes and then dried with clean, dry paper towels. Any cloth toys or materials will be machine washed.

Hand Washing Practices

Frequent hand washing is critical to the prevention of the spread of germs and infectious diseases. Posters of hand washing procedures are placed at each sink. Children are taught the proper technique for hand washing and monitored frequently. Hand washing is required by all staff, children and volunteers to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. The teaching staff assist children with hand washing as needed so they can successfully complete the task.

Children and adults wash their hands:

  • upon arrival each day
  • after using the toilet or helping a child in the bathroom
  • after handling bodily fluids (blowing or wiping a nose, coughing on a hand, touching any mucus, blood or vomit)
  • before meals and snacks
  • before preparing or serving food
  • after handling raw food that requires cooking (meat, eggs, poultry)
  • after playing in water, sand or other sensory material that is shared by 2 or more people
  • after handling pets or other animals or surfaces that have come in contact with animals
  • after playing outside

Adults must wash their hands:

  • before and after administering medication
  • after assisting a child with toileting
  • after handling garbage or cleaning

Proper hand washing procedures include:

  • using liquid soap and running water
  • rubbing soap on hands vigorously for 10-20 seconds, out of the water
  • scrubbing back of hands, wrists, between finger, under and around any jewelry, under fingernails
  • rinsing well under running water
  • drying hands with a paper towel and turning the faucet off with the paper towel

Wearing protective gloves are necessary when handling blood or bodily fluids that may contain blood. Wearing gloves is not a substitute for washing hands. Any sinks that are used for food preparation and other purposes must be sanitized before preparing food.

First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is located in the preschool backpack, hanging on a hook by the south door. It is inaccessible to children but readily available for adult use. It is fully equipped according to guidance from Healthy Child Care Iowa. Following use of the First Aid Kit, the contents will be inspected and missing or used items will be replaced immediately. The First Aid Kit will be inspected monthly and the checklist will be completed. The First Aid Kit will be taken outside and on all field trips away from the preschool.

See also the Emergencies page for our emergency procedures.

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For additional information contact:

Karen Veerhusen-Langerud at veerhuse@grinnell.edu
or (641) 269-3320; 1207 Park Street, Grinnell, IA 50112.

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