In Sickness and Health

Communicable Diseases

Any child with an infectious or communicable disease such as chicken pox or the flu will be isolated. Parents will be notified immediately to come and pick up the child. Admittance back into the dayschool is a staff and parental decision - not that of the child's physician. If there is any possibility your child has been exposed to a communicable disease outside the dayschool, please let us know right away. All other dayschool parents need to be informed of possible exposure to a communicable disease. Any occurrence of a communicable disease is reported to the King County Health Department.

We will keep the children's health/immunization record up to date by writing down each doctor visit or physical exam, immunizations given and any special instructions. We will keep information about specific conditions that require treatment or medications in your child's file. All medications must be from the doctor/pharmacy, with instructions and dosage included, and will be kept in a locked box away from the children.

Infection Control

The dayschool bathroom is sanitized each day.

Hands are washed before and after changing diapers, after bathroom use and before handling any food items.

Diaper changing procedures are posted in the bathroom.

If your child is ill in the morning, we require you to call and discuss the situation with us prior to bringing him/her into the dayschool. We can assess their fitness for dayschool, thus avoiding exposing others to illness and necessitating a parent to leave work to take their child home.

Blood Borne Pathogen Information

Strawberry Patch teachers have a blood borne pathogen plan. This plan is available for parents who would like to review it.

Immunizations

Before or on the child's first day of attendance, the parent must present a certificate of immunization status form for:

  1. Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTP)
  2. Polio
  3. Haemophilus, Influenzae Type B (HIB)
  4. Measles (Rubeola), Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
  5. Hepatitus B (Hep B)
  6. Varicella (chickenpox)
  7. Other vaccines

Strawberry Patch may exempt the immunization requirement for the child if the parent or legal guardian:

  1. Signs a statement expressing a religious, philosophical or personal objection; or
  2. Furnishes a physician's statement or a valid medical reason for the exemption.

However, if there is an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease that your child has not been immunized against, he or she can be excluded from school until the outbreak is over.

Medical Release Information

All parents are required to complete a medical release form on or before the first day of attendance at Strawberry Patch.

Illness

Children must be kept home if they exhibit any signs of fever, diarrhea, or have communicable diseases or viruses. Any child who becomes ill at The Patch will be isolated and parents informed to come and pick up their child as soon as possible. For the benefit of your child and others, please be sure your child has recovered completely before returning to the dayschool.

For fevers, a minimum of 24 hours is required to ensure the health of your child as well as the other children in the dayschool.

Medication

Parental consent is required per Washington Administrative Code, Chapter 388-155, Section 230 for any prescription or non-prescription medications.

Non-prescription medicines include antihistamines, non-aspirin fever reducers/pain relievers, non-narcotic cough suppressants, decongestants, anti-itching ointments, diaper ointments and sun screen. These non-prescription medications shall be dispensed only from an original container with dosage information, duration and method of administration specified on the manufacturer's label for the age or weight of the child.

Prescription medications must be brought into the dayschool in the original container with all of the specific administering information provided.

Emergency Procedures

Every caregiver at Strawberry Patch is CPR and first aid trained every two (2) years. Our certification in basic lifesaving techniques is also updated every two (2) years.

We keep a current Injury Log, and promptly inform parents of minor injuries when they pick up their child. The children receive lots of TLC and first aid as needed.

In the event of an emergency, we would assess the child's condition, reassure them that we are trained and can help. If necessary, we would activate the Emergency Medical System (911). We would then administer appropriate treatment as needed. Parents will be notified as soon as possible. If parents cannot be reached, we will contact the doctor listed on your Medical Release form.

Disaster Plan

In the event of a severe storm or earthquake we have prepared a cache of useful items:

In addition to fire drills, we also practice earthquake drills and talk to the children about preparing for an emergency and how to stay safe. In the February, 2001 earthquake, the children did exactly as we practiced, we reassured them and contacted the parents from our parent phone list. The parents all have our business cards should they need to contact us. We also have cultivated a list of neighbors (one a firefighter/paramedic) who can help and support us as needed.

Last updated: October 24, 2017