Guiding Children’s Health

It is important for centers to have health policies regarding children’s

health.

Medical Exams

• Shows if immunizations are current.

• Shows if the child is free from diseases that could be passed to others.

• Shows if the child has health problems that need special attention.

Children should stay home when…

• A temperature over 100 degrees F.

• Diarrhea or vomiting

• Severe cough or cold

• Drainage from open sores, eyes, nose, or ears.

• Rash

Administering Medications

• Medication has to be properly labeled.

• If needs to be locked up out of children’s reach.

• Always record child’s name, date, time, and the amount of medication given.

• Make sure you follow prescribed dosage- check and double check.

Napping

• Children should not share cots.

• Sheets should be changed more than once a week if the child is ill, perspired, or soiled the sheets.

Contacting Parents

• A sick child should be isolated from the classroom in an area to wait for parent pick up.

• Contact parents if the child shows signs of illness.

Personal Hygiene

• Wear hair nets.

• Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing.

• Proper hand washing.

First Aid

• Store first aid items in one area and check them monthly to ensure necessary supplies.

• Don’t lock first aid kits, you may not have time to search for the key.

• Children with special needs may need additional supplies.

• Always take a first aid kit on field trips.

Wound Treatment

• The most common closed wound is a bruise. Cover the area with a cold cloth.

• Cuts and scrapes are open wounds. Wounds that bleed little are more likely to become infected.

• An example is puncture wounds.• Wash wounds with soap and water. Cover with

bandage and press. Elevate if no fracture.• Seek help if the wound is deep or does not stop

bleeding in a short amount of time.

Bites

• If an animal bites a child and breaks the skin, consult a doctor.

• Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of an animal onto an open cut.

• If the animal cannot be found and tested, the child will have to undergo tests to check for rabies.

First Degree Burns

• They are the least severe.

• Result in brief contact with hot objects, scalded by hot water, etc.

• Apply cold water to burn.

Second Degree Burns

• Damage underlying layers of skin.

• Marked by pain, blistering, swelling.

• They require medical treatment.

• Breaking blisters or treating with ointment could turn it into a 3rd degree burn.

• Contact with hot liquids, extreme overexposure to sun, etc.

Third Degree Burns

• Destroy the skin layer and nerve endings.

• These burns are very serious; an ambulance should be called at once.

• Can be caused by open flames, burning clothing, contact with electrical wires, etc.

Sunburn

• Children can develop first or second degree burns.

• Babies should be kept in the shade.

• Children 6 months and older should have on sunscreen 30 minutes prior to exposure.

• Reapply after 2 hrs. of sun exposure.