Prevent sickness and flu at your child's day care facility by planning ahead, asking questions of the people caring for your child and by following some simple prevention techniques. Don't be afraid to take action; the energy spent on preventing flu and sickness may keep more than just your child safe.
When dealing with the flu, many people think about getting themselves and their families vaccinated; however, it’s less common that people request people around them in work, social settings or in child-care facilities get the flu vaccine.
Parents whose children attend child-care facilities should request that the employees of the facility, especially those who are in direct contact with children, get vaccinated for the flu.
Vaccination of the children in the facility and the employees of the facility will double the efforts of reducing the chance for viruses and germs to spread.
Parents with questions about vaccinating their child should speak with his or her healthcare provider.
Wash Hands
Parents teach it, teachers teach it and child-care workers teach it – wash hands often. But, this is advice that must be followed. And during flu season, everyone, especially children, should wash their hands more frequently than they might otherwise.
As a parent, encourage more hand washing with your children and their caregivers. Make washing hands fun by singing a song or telling stories, whatever it takes to get children to keep their hands clean.
A good hand washing includes soap, warm water and at least 15 seconds of scrubbing. Alcohol-based cleaners may be used too, but there’s nothing seemingly as good as soap.
Child-care employees especially need to wash after handling bandages, diapers or after wiping a child’s nose.
Cover Coughs and Sneezes
Parents should teach children to sneeze into tissue and then to toss the used tissue in the trash after it’s been used. Of course, after sneezing or blowing his or her nose, the child should then wash his or her hands.
Make sure there are tissues in each room.
In addition to covering coughs and sneezes, the environment of the child-care facility (and the home) should be kept clean.
Clean toys, tables, countertops, and commonly touched surfaces daily. Household bleach or alcohol-based cleaners such as Clorox disinfecting wipes should be used for this
Have a Flu Plan
Child-care facilities must have a plan for dealing with the flu. They need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of flu, and they need to make sure that a child who gets sick or shows signs of sickness are separated from the other children. They should have a parent pick up the sick child if the child has a fever, chills, cough, sore throat or muscle aches.
Also note that children can come down with the flu quickly and may need emergency care. A parent should know the facility’s emergency response plan and should discuss the plan in detail.
Day care employees should consider calling a doctor and parent if a child is having difficulty breathing, appears limp or lifeless or is worsening rapidly. Additionally, the day care center should have a plan in case a large number of children become ill at one time, and the plan should include notifying the childrens' parents.
If parents have questions about preparing or preventing sickness or flu in a day care setting they should speak with someone at the facility.
Reference:
“Flu Facts for a Child Care Setting;” Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Public Health; Sept. 22, 2009.
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