October 2019 Newsletter – Maintain a Safe and Healthy Environment: Standards Related to Health and Safety

An update to Standard 3.2.2.1: Situations that Require Hand Hygiene includes the following language:

Hand hygiene after diaper changing must always be performed. Hand hygiene before changing diapers is required only if the staff member’s hands have been contaminated since the last time the staff member practiced hand hygiene.

Note: your state licensing regulations may require handwashing prior to diapering. Always follow the strongest rule.

The following language has been revised from previous versions of Standard 3.6.1.1: Inclusion/Exclusion/Dismissal of Children: Fever without any signs or symptoms of illness in infants and children who are older than 4 months regardless of whether acetaminophen or ibuprofen was given. For this purpose, fever is defined as temperature above 101°F (38.3°C) by any method. These temperature readings do not require adjustment for the location where they are made. They are simply reported with the temperature and the location, as in “101°F in the armpit/axilla.”

Transportation Standards

Updated language to standard 5.3.1.12: Availability and Use of a Telephone or Wireless Communication Device includes:

While operating a motor vehicle to transport children, drivers should not use wireless communication devices when the vehicle is in motion. Drivers should never send and receive text messages, use social media, or use other mobile applications (“apps”)—with the exception of the use of a navigational or global positioning system device—while transporting children.

Standard 6.5.2.6: Route to Emergency Medical Services has been updated to include the following information:

Drivers who transport children to or from a child care program should keep written directions and a physical map in the transport vehicle providing the quickest route to the nearest emergency medical facility. Driving children is a significant responsibility. Transportation technicians and drivers need to be prepared and think quickly on their feet in the event of a medical emergency while on route.1 At any point during the route, should an emergency arise, drivers are equipped with the quickest route for obtaining any needed medical attention.

For the main article Maintain a Safe and Healthy Environment, CLICK HERE

For the article Standards Related to Medical/Emergency Response, CLICK HERE

For the article Standards Related to Interactions with Children, CLICK HERE

For the article Standards Related to Administration, CLICK HERE

October 2019 Newsletter – Maintain a Safe and Healthy Environment: Standards Related to Health and Safety