Chapter 5: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response

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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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response

• sensitivity
• prevention

• immunizations
• pathogens
• universal precautions
• biohazardous
• hypothermia
• frostbite
• heat exhaustion
• screenings
• safety policy

• risk management plan
• toxins
• food service sanitation certificate
• abdominal thrust
• cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• automated external defibrillation

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Promoting Childrens Health

• 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
  childrens normal brain and body development.

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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.

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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

• known conditions.
• diseases.
• immunizations.
• developmental growth.
• allergies.
• medications.
• medical problems or injuries.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Limiting Contagious Illness
Pathogens include bacteria and viruses.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Limiting Contagious Illness

• 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.

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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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Using Universal Precautions
Biohazardous materials include diapers, diaper
wipes, used disposable gloves, and blood-soaked
clothes.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Using Universal Precautions

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Limiting Weather-Related Illness
Shivering is a sign that a child may be
experiencing hypothermia.

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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.

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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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Limiting Weather-Related Illness

• Child care professionals need to protect children
  from extreme weather illnesses and risks

• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Heat exhaustion
• Heatstroke
• Sunburn
• Air pollution

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Handling and Reporting Illness

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Health Checks and Screenings
Vision and hearing screenings usually start at
age three.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Health Checks and Screenings

• Check daily for

• energy level.
• appetite.
• coughs.
• congestion.
• rash.
• watery eyes.

• inflamed throat.
• fever.
• runny nose.
• tiredness.
• crankiness.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Common Childhood Illnesses
Disease Symptoms Precautions
Pink eye (conjunctivitis) Redness in one or both eyes. Possible discharge from eyes that forms a crust at night. Eye itchiness. Child should stay home while symptoms are present. Contagious through hand-to-eye contact.
Ear infection Infant may pull at ear and cry. Older child will say that ear hurts. Possible temporary hearing loss. Fever. Child should stay home until fever-free for 24 hours.
Common cold Stuffy or runny nose, sneezing or coughing, mild fever, sore throat, diminished appetite. Child should stay home during first three days symptoms are present. Contagious through eye or mouth contact.
Influenza (flu) Sudden onset of fever, chills, nausea, tiredness, and aching muscles. A sore throat and stuffy nose may occur. Child should stay home while symptoms are present. Contagious through eye or mouth contact.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Health Checks and Screenings

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Special Health Concerns

• 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
  childs individual needs.

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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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Conditions That Impact Child Health

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Conditions That Impact Child Health

• 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 childs health
  and overall development.
• Drug-exposed children require special care to
  address possible developmental delays.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Conditions That Impact Child Health

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Conditions That Impact Child Health
Human Immunodeficiency Virus

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Enrollment of Children with Health Conditions

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  protects childrens rights to be enrolled in
  child care whenever reasonably possible.
• Information about a childs 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Ensuring Childrens Safety

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Safety Risks for Children

• Children are exposed to hazards in both indoor
  and outdoor environments.
• Staff members must make sure the furniture, toys,
  and play structures are safe.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Developing a Safety Policy
Early childhood program directors develop a
safety policy to ensure safe conditions.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Developing a Safety Policy

• A safety policy addresses

• the facility.
• transportation.
• toy safety and safety inspections.
• emergency and evacuation procedures.
• rules for children's conduct.
• positive methods of discipline.
• dealing with strangers.

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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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Developing a Safety Policy
Risk Management Plans

• Risk management plans contain procedures for
• fire.
• weather emergencies.
• bomb or other violent threats.
• health-related epidemics.
• keeping survival supplies on hand.

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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.

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Injury and Accident Prevention
Careful observation is important for accident
prevention.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Injury and Accident Prevention

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Injury and Accident Prevention

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Injury and Accident Prevention
Field Trip Safety

• Park vehicles in a safe, off-street area.
• Give each child a name tag with the programs
  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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Safety Documentation

• Staff members need to be familiar with forms
  pertaining to

• injuries.
• suspected abuse.
• releasing children.
• emergency treatment waiver.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Staff Health and Safety
Toxins can cause various illnesses, from rashes
to flulike illness.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Ensuring Staff Health and Safety

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Ensuring Staff Health and Safety
Leave Policies and Staff Substitutes

• Sick leave
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• When a staff member is absent from work, it is
  the directors responsibility to find another
  qualified worker to fill the position.

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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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Ensuring Staff Health and Safety
Certifying Food Service Staff

• Food service staff must be regularly trained in
  proper food-handling and sanitation practices.
• Food service staff should follow the U.S.
  Department of Agricultures (USDA) food safety
  guidelines clean, separate, cook, chill, and
  serve.

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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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Treating Minor Injuries

• Keep a first aid kit on hand for minor injuries

• bandages
• gauze pads and strips
• adhesive tape
• antiseptic wipes
• antibiotic ointment

• cold compress
• scissors
• disposable latex or vinyl gloves
• tweezers

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
First Aid Basics
Injury What to Do When to Seek Medical Attention
Nosebleeds Have child lean slightly forward. Squeeze lower half of the childs nose with a tissue for about 10 minutes. Repeat if bleeding has not stopped. If bleeding cannot be stopped after 20 minutes.
Open Wounds Place sterile gauze pad on cut and apply pressure until bleeding stops. Clean the wound with soap and water. Apply an antiseptic and cover the wound with a bandage. If wound is very deep, bleeding cannot be stopped, or there is an object in the wound.
Bumps and Bruises Apply a cold pack for 10 minutes to minor bruises. A hard blow to the head requires immediate medical attention. If child loses consciousness, complains of a headache, or vomits.
Splinters If necessary, break the skin with a sterilized needle to expose splinter. Remove splinter with sterilized tweezers. Then apply antiseptic and bandage wound. If splinter is glass or deeply embedded in skin or the eye.
Burns For burns that produce just redness (first-degree burn), place burned area under cold water or apply a cold, wet cloth. Do not put ointment on the burn. If burned area forms blisters (second-degree burn) or has broken or blackened skin (third-degree burn).
Insect Stings Remove stinger by scraping with a sterile blunt-edged object. Wash area and apply a cold pack. If child shows any signs of an allergic reaction.

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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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Treating Serious Injuries
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can keep a
person alive until emergency medical
professionals arrive.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Treating Serious Injuries
Many states require that early childhood
providers be trained in automated external
defibrillation (AED).

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Treating Serious Injuries
Choking

• 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.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Treating Serious Injuries
Rescue Breathing

• If a child stops breathing but has a heartbeat,
  staff must use rescue breathing to breathe for
  the child.
• Staff members must be certified in order to
  perform rescue breathing.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Treating Serious Injuries
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

• Chest compressions and gentle puffs of air are
  given to the person to help the heart circulate
  blood.
• CPR can keep a person alive until emergency
  medical professionals arrive.
• Staff members must be certified in CPR before
  they can apply the technique.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Treating Serious Injuries
Automated External Defibrillation

• This procedure is used when there has been a
  disruption in a persons regular heart rhythm.
• AED requires an electrical shock that
  reestablishes a normal heart rhythm.
• Early CPR helps circulate blood to body organs
  while an AED is prepared for use.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Treating Serious Injuries
Accidental Poisoning

• Immediately call a poison control center if you
  see these signs
• burns around or in the mouth and throat
• nausea or vomiting
• burns or rash on the skin
• burning or irritation of the eyes or blindness
• choking, coughing, headache, or dizziness

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Handling Emergency Evacuations

• Immediately escort children out of the building
  or to the designated safe place.
• Designate one care provider to take the sign-in
  sheet to account for children when safe.
• When in the safe place, notify parents.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Review Key Concepts
Describe how child care professionals can limit
the spread of contagious diseases.

• Hand WashingLimit the spread of contagious
  diseases by frequent and thorough hand washing.
• Environmental DisinfectionClean, sanitize, or
  disinfect hard surfaces.
• Wearing GlovesWear fresh gloves when you come
  into contact with bodily fluids.
• Disposal of Biohazardous MaterialsDouble-bag and
  tie biohazardous materials.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Review Key Concepts
Explain the practices child care professionals
use to check for and report illnesses.

• Check daily for health problems.
• Hold regular health screenings.
• Restrict attendance of sick staff and children.
• Report illnesses to health agencies and parents.
• Follow medication procedures.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Review Key Concepts
Define seven special health conditions that can
affect children.

• Allergies extreme sensitivity to a common
  substance.
• Asthma a lung condition that makes it difficult
  to breathe.
• Diabetes the body does not produce enough
  insulin.
• Drug exposure affects health and development.
• Giardiasis intestinal disease caused by a
  parasite.
• Head lice small insects that live on the scalp.
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks and
  weakens the immune system.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Review Key Concepts
Summarize the rules and procedures in an
effective early childhood program safety policy.

• A safety policy addresses facility,
  transportation, and toy safety and safety
  inspections.
• A safety policy also covers emergency and
  evacuation procedures, rules for children's
  conduct, positive methods of discipline, and
  dealing with strangers.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Review Key Concepts
Identify procedures to maintain the health and
safety of all staff members.

• Staff must consistently follow universal
  precautions to reduce their exposure to
  contagious disease and harmful substances.
• All staff members are required to submit a
  physicians report verifying their good health.
• Each staff member must receive a negative result
  on a tuberculosis test annually.
• Staff should get regular immunizations such as
  influenza, tetanus, and Hepatitis B.

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Chapter 5 Health, Safety, and Emergency Response
Review Key Concepts
List the emergency skills training needed by
staff members.

• basic first aid
• abdominal thrusts
• back blows and chest thrusts
• rescue breathing
• cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• automated external defibrillation (AED)
• Follow instructions from poison control center.

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End of Chapter 5Health, Safety, and Emergency
Response