SICK POLICY

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The safety and well-being of children is of the highest priority in our program. We understand the concerns and needs of working parents and try to accommodate the difficulties associated with a sick child. However, providers are not required to care for children who are ill or pose a risk of spreading sickness to other children in the provider’s home.

     

We follow several policies and procedures to minimize the spread of infections and promote a healthy environment. You are required to keep your child home if he or she shows any of the following symptoms of illness:

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• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Fever

• Pink eye

• Impetigo

• Rashes

    

If you suspect that your child may have an infectious disease such as measles, rubella or chicken pox, please have the condition diagnosed by a doctor and notify us. If your child has a contagious illness or condition, your child is required to be absent from the program for a prescribed period.

    

It is very important that you have back-up childcare arranged for your child. We are unable to care for ill children and cannot accommodate children in our program who need to be kept indoors because they are feeling unwell. Providers are not required to care for children who are ill or pose a risk of spreading sickness to other children in the Day Care.

    

We follow the recommendations of Niagara Region Public Health in handling children with the conditions mentioned above.

 

Common cold
Children may continue to attend the childcare centre if feeling well enough to take part in regular daily activities.

 

Diarrhea
A child can attend the childcare centre 24 hours after they no longer have symptoms of diarrhea or 48 hours if the centre is in an outbreak situation. This may vary depending on cause of illness, number of cases and source of infection.

 

Fever
A child must be fever-free, without the use of fever-reducing medicine, for 24 hours before returning to the childcare centre. Upon return, the child must be able to participate in all activities including outdoor play.

 

Fifth disease
A child can attend the childcare centre because they are no longer contagious once the rash appears.

 

Hand / foot and mouth
A child may return to the child care centre when feeling well enough to take part in activities. However, keeping young children at home who drool and have blisters in the mouth can help to reduce the spread of infection to others.

 

Impetigo
A child should not return to childcare until the antibiotic prescribed by a health care provider has been taken for at least one full day (24 hours), and the child is well enough to take part in all program activities.

 

Pink eye
A child with pink eye should be kept home until seen by a health care provider. If bacterial, the child can return to the childcare centre after 24 hours of appropriate antibiotic treatment. If viral, the child can return with the health care provider’s approval. No need to exclude if there's no eye discharge, unless there is an outbreak

 

Rash
A child who develops an unknown rash should be assessed by a health care provider.

 

Roseola
Children may continue to attend childcare centre if feeling well enough to take part in regular daily activities.

 

Strep throat
A child should not return to child care until the antibiotic prescribed by a health care provider has been taken for at least one full day (24 hours), and the child is well enough to take part in all program activities.