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Too ill?
Your first responsibility in keeping children healthy while in your care is to check them for signs of illness when they arrive, as well as throughout the day.
Your first responsibility in keeping children healthy while in your care is to check them for signs of illness when they arrive, as well as throughout the day.
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You May Print or Save Handouts for Reference
See Handout 4, “Daily Health Check,” for symptoms for both children and staff: Handout 4
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Children with common colds do not need to stay home. Usually a child has already exposed others before presenting symptoms. Refer to your local health department to get a list of contagious and non-contagious illnesses. Excluding or isolating children with non-contagious, mild illnesses can be a hardship on the family and child.
The center must have a clear policy on excluding a child from care. Some infections such as chickenpox, hepatitis, and meningitis require the child to stay home for a lengthy recovery period. The policy should be included in the Parent Handbook, and parents should be encouraged to have a back-up plan for their child’s care when their child is too sick to be in your program. If children are uncomfortable, disoriented, or irritable, they are better off at home getting the rest and individual attention they need.
The center must have a clear policy on excluding a child from care. Some infections such as chickenpox, hepatitis, and meningitis require the child to stay home for a lengthy recovery period. The policy should be included in the Parent Handbook, and parents should be encouraged to have a back-up plan for their child’s care when their child is too sick to be in your program. If children are uncomfortable, disoriented, or irritable, they are better off at home getting the rest and individual attention they need.
Optional Resource web link:
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Talk to your health consultant or your local health department if you have questions about a particular illness. Refer to Washington State Dept. of Health website: Illness and Disease for specific information
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When a child becomes ill or is injured
while in your care:
Children who become ill while in your care must be isolated. Have them lie down in a quiet space away from the other children, but within view of the staff. Staff must supervise ill children at all times. Contact the parents to come pick up their child. Your responsibilities include the following:
Children who become ill while in your care must be isolated. Have them lie down in a quiet space away from the other children, but within view of the staff. Staff must supervise ill children at all times. Contact the parents to come pick up their child. Your responsibilities include the following:
- Keep a confidential, individualized, written record in the child’s file that includes the date of an illness or injury, treatment provided and names of staff providing the treatment. (See your Guidebook / Guide for sample reporting forms)
- If you suspect the child has a communicable disease, remember to sanitize all equipment that the ill child used.
- If an injury or illness results in a visit to the child’s doctor and includes casting, stitches, or hospitalization, you are required to notify your child care licensor.
- Notify parents in writing when their children have been exposed to infectious diseases or parasites. The notification may be either a letter to families or posting for all in a visible location.
The information needed to complete this worksheet can be found in the required reading for this module: 2. Child Care Center Licensing Guidebook (2nd ed., DEL 2006) pp 126-136
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Coursework is submitted to us live, as you complete each page. An optional checklist is available to keep track of your progress. Use the menus to return to where you left off in the training. If you need help, click on the Student Support Chat on the bottom right corner of the page.
Alternate links for pop-ups:
Handout 4, “Daily Health Check,”
Washington State Dept. of Health website: Illness and Disease
Child Care Center Licensing Guidebook (2nd ed., DEL 2006) pp 126-136
Handout 4, “Daily Health Check,”
Washington State Dept. of Health website: Illness and Disease
Child Care Center Licensing Guidebook (2nd ed., DEL 2006) pp 126-136