October is Children's Health Month - post

Did you know that October is Children's Health Month?  Do you conduct a daily health check? Standard 3.1.1.1 in Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Ed.  (CFOC3) contains the following recommendations:

“Every day, a trained staff member should conduct a health check of each child. This health check should be conducted as soon as possible after the child enters the child care facility and whenever a change in the child’s behavior or appearance is noted while that child is in care. The health check should address:

1. Reported or observed illness or injury affecting the child or family members since the last date of attendance;
2. Reported or observed changes in behavior of the child (such as lethargy or irritability) or in the appearance (e.g., sad) of the child from the previous day at home or the previous day’s attendance at child care;
3. Skin rashes, impetigo, itching or scratching of the skin, itching or scratching of the scalp, or the presence of one or more live crawling lice;
4. A temperature check if the child appears ill (a daily screening temperature check is not recommended);
5. Other signs or symptoms of illness and injury (such as drainage from eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, cuts/lacerations, pain, or feeling ill).

The caregiver/teacher should gain information necessary to complete the daily health check by direct observation of the child, by querying the parent/guardian, and, where applicable, by conversation with the child.”

Disclaimer:  Information obtained from National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education website.