If you have any doubt to whether your child can participate in our daily activities, please keep him/her home.  If your child becomes ill while you are at work, we will contact you and separate them from the rest of the group.  You will need to make arrangements for someone to pick up your child within 30 minutes of the time we call. 

SYMPTOMS REQUIRING REMOVAL OF CHILD FROM CHILD CARE

o Fever: Fever is defined as a temperature over 100.1F taken in the ear.  A child needs to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to childcare; that means the child is fever free without the aid of Tylenol or any other fever reducing substance.

o Diarrhea: Runny or watery stools, or 3 or more loose stools within a 4 hour period.  As for infants with fevers and/or diarrhea and as it pertains to teething, we will only accept a child with these symptoms back into care after the child has seen a doctor and a note is sent from the doctor stating that these symptoms are due to teething only.

o Vomiting

o Runny nose:  Your child may be brought to care if he/she has a common cold (slight cough, clear runny nose, occasional sneezing).  Discharge of any color other than clear is not acceptable in childcare.

o Runny and/or Crusty Eyes:  Water, matted, and/or red/pink eyes are not acceptable in childcare.

o Unexplained Rash

o Excessive Crankiness:  Child is irritable, excessive whining or crying, wants constantly held, or requires more attention than a teacher can provide without jeopardizing the health, safety, or well being of the other children in our care.

o Please also refer to All About Kids’ Illness Chart for Parents for more detailed information on symptoms and length of removal of child from the facility.

Your child cannot be permitted into childcare if he/she has had any of the listed symptoms within the last 24 hours.  A sick child should be allowed to recover fully after an illness so that other children in the group do not risk exposure and so that the child is able to fully participate in childcare activities.  If you are unable to remain at home with your sick child it will be necessary for you to make substitute child care arrangements at your own expense.  If your child becomes ill while in our care, we will notify you immediately.  You are required to pick up your child within 30 minutes of notification.  If you cannot be reached then your emergency contact will be called.  We reserve the right to determine when a child should be sent home due to illness.  Children may return to care 24 hours after symptoms of illness end or with written authorization from your doctor stating the name of illness and when child may return to group care.

If your child is thought to have a communicable disease, you will be notified and asked to pick him/her up.  He/She will be isolated from the other children and given special attention and comfort until you arrive.  Your child will be accepted back into care when no longer contagious.   All other parents will be notified of the possibility of a communicable disease and what symptoms to watch for.

Further, there are times when a child is not that ill, but is terribly uncomfortable, and really needs some “one on one”.  At those times we strongly urge you to consider keeping your child at home. 

MEDICATIONS

We can administer medications, but only those that are prescribed by a physician to be giving during the times of care.  (In other words, if the medicine is prescribed to be given once or twice a day – it can be arranged to give at home. – If a medicine is prescribed to be given three or more times a day or at a specific time and it is during child care times then we will give the medicine.)  Parents are required to fill out the proper forms and to supply all medication in their original containers. 

Health Policy and Guidelines

Illness Chart

Please review the guidelines very carefully when deciding if your child is able to come to school.  If your child has any of these symptoms they are to be excluded from care for the time given in the outline as directed by the State of Tennessee Department of Human Services.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

In case of EMERGENCY, we will administer the necessary first aid.  If needed, your child will be transported to the hospital designated on your Emergency Transportation Authorization form.  YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY.  If you or your Emergency Contact are unable to be reached and a situation arises where we fear the safety of your child (such as a child’s temperature reaching past 103F, uncontrollably bleeding, etc.) then your child will be taken to the hospital designated on your Emergency Transportation and Treatment Authorization Form.  If an ambulance transports your child, the cost of the ambulance will be your responsibility.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Health and Immunizations Records must be current at all times and signed by a health care provider.  All About Kids’ records will be examined annually by the Health Department and our license may be withheld if the children’s immunizations are not current.