Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response

1. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • The health and safety of children and child care staff can be protected by using universal precautions. • A safety policy describes policies and procedures for ensuring children and staff safety. • Certification and training in first aid and other emergency skills help staff handle emergencies.

2. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • immunizations • pathogens • universal precautions • biohazardous • hypothermia • frostbite • heat exhaustion • screenings • safety policy • sensitivity • prevention • risk management plan • toxins • food service sanitation certificate • abdominal thrust • cardiopulmonary resuscitation • automated external defibrillation Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response

3. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Promoting Children’s Health Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Positive environmental factors such as good nutrition, daily exercise, regular health checkups, and clean, safe home and school environments contribute to the health and wellness of children. • During the early childhood years, illness, injury, and poor nutrition can interfere with children’s normal brain and body development.

4. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Health Records and Emergency Forms Health reports include records of immunizations and information about known conditions, diseases, or other problems. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response immunizations Vaccines that protect children from certain diseases.

5. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Health Records and Emergency Forms • Health records list the results of health checks and screenings. Health records include Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • known conditions. • diseases. • immunizations. • developmental growth. • allergies. • medications. • medical problems or injuries.

6. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Limiting Contagious Illness Pathogens include bacteria and viruses. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response pathogens Disease-causing organisms; germs.

7. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Limiting Contagious Illness Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Children are subject to many infectious diseases such as colds, influenza, and strep throat. • Everything touched, such as toys, food, and other people, is a possible source of illness.

8. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Using Universal Precautions Universal precautions must be followed to prevent direct contact with bodily fluids such as urine, feces, and vomit. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response universal precautions Infection-control guidelines staff must follow to protect themselves from infectious disease and to limit its spread.

9. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Using Universal Precautions Biohazardous materials include diapers, diaper wipes, used disposable gloves, and blood-soaked clothes. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response biohazardous Materials that come into contact with bodily fluids.

10. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Using Universal Precautions Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Hand Washing • Limit the spread of contagious diseases by frequent and thorough hand washing. • Environmental Disinfection • Clean, sanitize, or disinfect hard surfaces. • Wearing Gloves • Wear fresh gloves when you come into contact with bodily fluids. • Disposal of Biohazardous Materials • Double-bag and tie biohazardous materials.

11. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Limiting Weather-Related Illness Shivering is a sign that a child may be experiencing hypothermia. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response hypothermia Occurs when the body’s temperature gets dangerously low.

12. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Limiting Weather-Related Illness Even if dressed in warm and waterproof clothing, children may still get frostbite if they are outside for long periods in severely cold weather. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response frostbite The freezing of body tissue, usually the feet, hands, face, and ears.

13. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Limiting Weather-Related Illness Heat exhaustion can be prevented by not allowing children to play outdoors for long periods during very hot weather. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response heatexhaustion A form of physical stress on the body caused by overheating, resulting in dizziness and fatigue caused by the loss of fluid and salt through profuse sweating.

14. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Limiting Weather-Related Illness • Child care professionals need to protect children from extreme weather illnesses and risks: Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Hypothermia • Frostbite • Heat exhaustion • Heatstroke • Sunburn • Air pollution

15. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Handling and Reporting Illness Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Even in the best of environments, illness occurs. • Child care professionals work to limit the spread of disease and care for ill children. • Child care professionals record health information to comply with health codes and licensing requirements.

16. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Health Checks and Screenings Vision and hearing screenings usually start at age three. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response screenings Examinations given to a group of children to look for one specific health problem.

17. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Health Checks and Screenings Check daily for Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • energy level. • appetite. • coughs. • congestion. • rash. • watery eyes. • inflamed throat. • fever. • runny nose. • tiredness. • crankiness.

18. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Common Childhood Illnesses Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response

19. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Health Checks and Screenings Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Restricting Attendance • Children with a contagious illness should stay home. • Reporting Illness and Informing Parents • Report contagious diseases to the public health department. • Inform parents about outbreaks at the center. • Medication Procedures • State licensing laws may restrict dispensing medicine in child care settings. • Parents complete and sign a medication permission form.

20. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Special Health Concerns Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Some children have health conditions that require special attention. • Care and medication details should be noted in enrollment records and discussed with parents. • Child care professionals need to respond to a child’s individual needs.

21. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Conditions That Impact Child Health Children with severe allergies have an extreme sensitivity to common substances such as peanuts or animal fur. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response sensitivity Reaction; capacity for physical sensation or response.

22. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Conditions That Impact Child Health Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Allergies • Some allergic reactions require medical assistance or are life-threatening. Asthma • Coughing, wheezing, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath are signs of an asthma attack. • Asthma attacks can be triggered by an allergic reaction, dust, air pollution, physical exercise, smoke, and pets.

23. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Conditions That Impact Child Health Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Diabetes • Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce insulin. • Diabetes is usually controlled through medication and diet. Drug Exposure • Prenatal drug exposure affects a child’s health and overall development. • Drug-exposed children require special care to address possible developmental delays.

24. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Conditions That Impact Child Health Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Giardiasis • Giardiasis is a contagious intestinal disease caused by a parasite that results in diarrhea. • Proper diapering and hand washing can prevent the spread of giardiasis. Head Lice • Head lice are small insects that live close to the scalp on human hair. • Signs of lice include itching at the roots of the hair and small red bite marks on the scalp.

25. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Conditions That Impact Child Health Human Immunodeficiency Virus Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • HIV attacks and slowly weakens the immune system. • A person with HIV has frequent illnesses that the weakened immune system cannot easily fight off. • This cycle of repeated illness is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). • HIV can be treated with medication, but at this time, there is no known cure for HIV or AIDS.

26. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Enrollment of Children with Health Conditions Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects children’s rights to be enrolled in child care whenever reasonably possible. • Information about a child’s health is limited to the primary teacher and the program director. • Staff should work cooperatively with parents to receive training in order to provide the child with the best care possible.

27. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Ensuring Children’s Safety Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • The most important safety precaution in group child care is adequate and continuous supervision of children. • Children should always be monitored and cared for in safe conditions. • Children need teachers who model good safety practices during classroom activities.

28. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Safety Risks for Children Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Children are exposed to hazards in both indoor and outdoor environments. • Staff members must make sure the furniture, toys, and play structures are safe.

29. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Developing a Safety Policy Early childhood program directors develop a safety policy to ensure safe conditions. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response safety policy A statement of the rules and procedures that protect children and staff.

30. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Developing a Safety Policy • A safety policy addresses Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • the facility. • transportation. • toy safety and safety inspections. • emergency and evacuation procedures. • rules for children's conduct. • positive methods of discipline. • dealing with strangers.

31. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Developing a Safety Policy Creating and following a risk management plan helps staff and children remain calm and respond quickly to any emergency. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response risk management plan Emergency procedures established in writing.

32. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Developing a Safety Policy Risk Management Plans Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Risk management plans contain procedures for • fire. • weather emergencies. • bomb or other violent threats. • health-related epidemics. • keeping survival supplies on hand.

33. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Developing a Safety Policy • The American Red Cross and local safety agencies can provide information on preparation and response. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Fire Evacuation Drills • Fire evacuation diagrams must be posted. • Hold fire drills monthly. • Severe Weather and Disaster Drills • Electrical storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, floods, earthquakes, mudslides, wildfires, and explosions require an evacuation plan.

34. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Injury and Accident Prevention Careful observation is important for accident prevention. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response prevention Taking action to keep something from happening.

35. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Injury and Accident Prevention Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • The number and severity of incidents can be limited with prevention. • Always be alert to safety hazards that put children in danger. • Respond quickly and calmly to prevent children from hurting themselves or others.

36. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Injury and Accident Prevention Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Safety Inspections • Inspect indoor and outdoor areas daily. • Use a checklist to check toys and equipment for wear and damage. • Report hazards and dispose of litter. • Transportation Safety • Conduct vehicle safety inspections and use appropriate equipment and safety restraints. • Ensure that drivers are legally licensed.

37. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Injury and Accident Prevention Field Trip Safety Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Park vehicles in a safe, off-street area. • Give each child a name tag with the program’s name and telephone number. • Invite parents along to increase supervision. • Count the number of children before leaving on the field trip and count them several times during the trip.

38. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Safety Documentation • Staff members need to be familiar with forms pertaining to Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • injuries. • suspected abuse. • releasing children. • emergency treatment waiver.

39. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Staff Health and Safety Toxins can cause various illnesses, from rashes to flulike illness. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response toxins Contagious diseases and harmful substances.

40. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Ensuring Staff Health and Safety Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines help employers prevent work-related injuries and illness. • Staff members should obtain first aid and CPR certificates. • Many states require fingerprinting and a criminal background check.

41. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Ensuring Staff Health and Safety Leave Policies and Staff Substitutes Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Sick leave • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) • When a staff member is absent from work, it is the director’s responsibility to find another qualified worker to fill the position.

42. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Ensuring Staff Health and Safety Managers and staff may be required to obtain a food service sanitation certificate to demonstrate that they are qualified to safely handle food. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response food service sanitation certificate Received after passing a state-administered test covering proper food-handling practices.

43. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Ensuring Staff Health and Safety Certifying Food Service Staff Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Food service staff must be regularly trained in proper food-handling and sanitation practices. • Food service staff should follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) food safety guidelines: clean, separate, cook, chill, and serve.

44. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Emergency Skills • Staff need emergency skills training to respond to life-threatening injuries and situations. • The American Red Cross provides first aid, CPR, and other emergency skills training that can be used with infants, children, and adults. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response

45. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Treating Minor Injuries • Keep a first aid kit on hand for minor injuries: Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • bandages • gauze pads and strips • adhesive tape • antiseptic wipes • antibiotic ointment • cold compress • scissors • disposable latex or vinyl gloves • tweezers

46. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response First Aid Basics Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response

47. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Treating Serious Injuries Choking victims should be treated with an abdominal thrust. An abdominal thrust should not be used on infants because of the possibility of internal injury. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response abdominal thrust A quick, upward thrust with the heel of the hand into the abdomen that forces air out from the lungs to expel an object caught in the throat.

48. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Treating Serious Injuries Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can keep a person alive until emergency medical professionals arrive. Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response cardiopulmonary resuscitation To help the heart circulate blood, chest compressions and gentle puffs of air are given when a person does not have a detectable heartbeat or pulse.

49. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Treating Serious Injuries Many states require that early childhood providers be trained in automated external defibrillation (AED). Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response automated external defibrillation A procedure used when there has been a disruption in a person’s regular heart rhythm.

50. Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Treating Serious Injuries Choking Child Care Today,Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response • Young children tend to put all kinds of objects into their mouths. • Choking victims need immediate attention. • For children older than one, use abdominal thrusts. • For infants, use back blows and chest thrusts.