Looking for The Perfect Cold and Flu Letter
It's already that time of year to send out the lovely reminder of the cold/flu letters.
Hoping that all of us working together can create the perfect letter. what is yours? |
Hello Everyone,
Cold and flu season is upon us I thought I would take some time out to remind everyone of my sickness policy. Please keep this handy for reference throughout the year. When my own children get sick I will text you and let you know. I will leave it up to your discretion as to whether or not you want to send your own child (if the daycare remains open). Thank you for your cooperation in this matter and hopefully we can keep everyone as healthy as possible! ~ Ariana Child Illness For the health and safety of your child and all of the children in our daycare, please do not bring your child to daycare sick. I can only care for children with mild cold like symptoms that are otherwise feeling and acting well. Mild cold like symptoms are clear runny nose, slight cough, no fever and acting normally. If you are not sure if your child should be brought to daycare, then please call and check with us. If a child becomes ill during daycare hours the parents will be contacted to pick up their child. Parents need to pick up their children within one hour of being notified. If parents are not available, the emergency contact person will be notified. Note: Once the child is removed from daycare due to illness, they may not return to daycare until symptoms requiring removal are no longer present. The child must also be void of any contagious disease, unless accompanied by a doctor’s note stating the illness in question is not contagious, and the child is otherwise feeling well enough to participate in our daily schedule. Parents agree to keep their child home if he/she has exhibited the following symptoms in the night or in the morning: Vomiting, diarrhea (more than just once), a fever (even if it is low grade), general malaise, a rash, or has any contagious diseases such as pink eye, chicken pox, impetigo, strep throat, head lice, etc. Children should also remain at home the first 48 hours following their first dose of antibiotics. Guidelines for Children Requiring Exclusion from Daycare A child with any of the following illnesses must be completely free of any symptoms before returning to daycare. If the child is taking antibiotics for an illness, the child may return to daycare after the initial 48 hours of beginning antibiotics as long as he or she has no fever (under 37.3 C under the arm), no longer contagious, and is otherwise feeling well enough to participate in our daily schedule. Signs of illness include the following; unusual lethargy, irritability, persistent crying for no reason, runny nose (more than clear), cough (more than slight), difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, mouth sores, rashes (note from doctor stating non-contagious is ok), pink eye, chicken pox, mumps, measles, roseola, hepatitis A, impetigo, lice, ringworm, scabies, strep throat, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, shingles, and any other contagious disease or rash. Any child with a fever of 37.3 C or above, orally (in the mouth), or auxiliary (under the arm), may not attend daycare. At XXX Childcare, we make it a good practice to notify parents of children who have been exposed to certain contagious diseases. Therefore, to keep in line with our illness policies and to respect the health and wellness of other families in our care, please notify us if your child becomes infected, so a note can be posted. Furthermore, please notify the daycare if the child has been ill since the last day of care. This includes bumps and bruises as well as illness. Medications Children are not given any medication without the parents’ written consent. Written consent may only be given on a “Permission to Administer Medications” form, and all medications must be in their original bottles with original labels. For prescription medication, only the directions on the bottle will be accepted for administering the medication. In all instances the Caregiver will also need to know when the child received his/her last dosage of the medication, to ensure medication is given appropriately. Children are not to be brought to daycare with cold medications. If a child is sick enough for cold medications they are too sick to be at daycard. |
I do the same as Ariana. Send home a short letter outlining my expectations, that parents need to monitor for symptoms, highlighting the 24/48 rule and that I don't accept children with OTC meds on board. I also attach my illness policy.
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I go to CDC.GOV and order the free fliers, posters and brochures for childcare providers. :Sunny:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources...-childcare.htm |
Originally Posted by childcaremom: |
The explanation is still under the 24/48 hour tags below (from back in May). :Sunny:
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Originally Posted by jenboo: Originally Posted by Cat Herder: Originally Posted by childcaremom: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: thanks ladies for chiming in here. |
Originally Posted by Blackcat31: Does anyone have an explanation for when a kisd comes into care with zero symptoms and ends up sick? This is where i get the most questions and I'm never sure how to explain it. |
Originally Posted by jenboo: If it was mild illness, or not able to participate, I leave it at 24 hours and require they call me in the morning to check in with me so I can decide if their child is well enough to attend or not. I am not sure how others do it, this is how I do it |
Originally Posted by daycare: |
I still exclude 48 hours. If it just comes on, it is probably at the beginning of an illness. Exposing others.
I don't explain anything really. During the interview, I just tell parents that my illness policy is super strict. This is the rule. It stops a lot of the back and forth. I tell them why I implemented it. Had lots of illnesses and back and forth. Changed the rule and that all stopped. I explain that I don't send home willy nilly. That I am well care only. That once I get to know a child, I can tell when they are feeling off. This is what I exclude for. And that's it. It felt weird when I first changed the policy. Then I had the winter of sickness. My families now love this policy and keep their little ones home when they are sick or feeling off. |
I treat a child who gets sick with me the same as if they got sick before they came. They go home and cannot return until symptoms are gone. They must be picked up within an hour.
As for my sick policy, I sent this home last fall and a few days later ta dad drops off and says "she has diarrhea so I packed some bun cream" :eek: I told him she was not allowed into care and had to go home. I reiterated that I had JUST sent home a sick policy reminder. It has not happened since! Enforcing rules is the only way that some parents will get it. I also have parents who love my sick policy until it effects them! |
Originally Posted by Ariana: Week 2 they dropped off with a mention that they had given dcg some motrin. Sent them home (with a strict warning) and mom was :eek:. Sent home yesterday (week 7) for not feeling well and dcm asked if she could come back the next day. I just sent home my reminder, too. :rolleyes: See ya Monday! Jenboo, are you wondering how to explain it to parents? The 'why'? I tell them that it isn't meant to be punitive at all. That it puts the onus on parents to make sure that they are sending well children and helps to keep the whole group healthy. That I have a great group of parents who keep their children home when they are unwell. I always reassure that I don't just send home (in fact, I hardly ever need to send home anymore) but that it has worked wonders at stopping the back and forth. As I said, I always use that one winter as an example and that once I implemented the policy, it all stopped. I also make sure to explain that kids will get sick so a back up plan is important. All of my parents have family local, though, and/or back up care plans so that there is not the temptation to send in child with a cross-of-the-fingers that they are ok. The ones who think that's it's 'not fair' are the ones who either don't have a reliable back up plan or plan to send their kids when they aren't feeling well. |
Originally Posted by childcaremom: At that point, I considered changing my policy to no credits if dd gets sick after dck gets sent home. But I have not figured out away to write that up fairly. |
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