Illness Policy

The health and well being of your child is our number one concern but the reality is, children do become ill. It is important to take preventative measures such as:

• Hand washing
• Nutritious food
• Proper diaper handling techniques
• Proper personal grooming habits
• Keeping the environment clean

As a parent, you also can assist in making sure that your child is safe by informing us if your child has any allergies or any other medical condition.

If your child becomes ill, we require 24 hours notice from the time of diagnosis. Children with following symptoms will not be accepted into the program or if symptoms develop during the day, causing the child to be unable to participate in the program, the parent will be called and asked to pick up the child immediately.

• Diarrhea—loose bowel movement twice within one hour.
• Vomiting-twice within 1 hour unless other symptoms are present
• Difficulty breathing
• Fever temperature of 38C/101F or higher
• Rash—other than an allergic or diaper rash
• Red, itchy eyes
• Lice
• Any illness that prevents your child from taking part in activities
• Any illness that requires more care than staff can provide without affecting the health and safety of the other children

If a child becomes sick in the center , i.e. vomiting, diarrhea, pink eye, fever, etc., the parents will be called and asked to pick up the child immediately. If the child becomes very ill, the doctor on call at the IWK Health Centre will be contacted. Before the child may return to the Centre, a Medical Certificate from a doctor stating that the child is not contagious and is well enough to attend the childcare center may be required.

Medicines

Occasional children require medications while at the Centre. To ensure the Centre safely administers these medications we adhere to the Department of Community Services guidelines:

1. The administration of Medication form must be completed
2. For prescriptions, the prescription label must be on the medication.
3. Instructions must follow prescription.
4. For nonprescription, over the counter drugs, a doctor’s note prescribing medications and dosage must be brought to Centre.

We wish to express our sincere thanks to all of you who keep their sick little ones at home and comply with our policies. We appreciate your courtesy!