Health and Safety Planning

HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE

Members:  Director of Operations, 3 Faculty members, Director of Finance and or Admissions (which has more expertise), at least 1 class representative parent

Each year the school will appoint faculty and parent members to review and update the school’s protocols for cold and flu prevention and response.  This committee shall meet at the beginning of the school year to review the prior year’s activity, propose any changes, and procure the necessary materials to begin the school year with the plan in place.  The committee will issue a report to the community outlining any changes or upgrades to the plan in the first week of school. When requested by the committee, the school will add a health care consultant to advise on protocols.

The Chairman of this committee is the Director of Operations who will be responsible for identifying reliable sources of information regarding the seasonal flu strain or pandemic flu outbreak considering local, state and national resources, monitoring public health department announcements and other guidance, and forwarding key information to staff and parents/guardians as needed (a child care health consultant can be especially helpful with this);

The review of plans will include the infection control protocols and the communication plan as well as the child learning and program operations plan in the pandemic flu plan.

A list of key contacts such as representatives at the local/state health departments and agencies that regulate child care and their plans to combat or address seasonal or pandemic influenza will be reviewed and updated as part of the review process.

The committee will also review and update a plan of action for addressing key business continuity and programmatic issues relevant to pandemic flu, review communication to parents/guardians encouraging them to have a back-up plan for care for their children if the program must be closed;

The committee will identify each year the person who will consult and collaborate with those in charge of Cobb County’s flu planning updates, and to garner information about services in the community that can help staff, children, and their families deal with stress and other problems caused by a flu outbreak or pandemic, and to communicate with other child care programs in the area to share information and possibly share expertise and resources.

Communications plan:

  1. Maintain a plan for keeping in touch during the flu and/or pandemic with staff members and children’s families;

  2. Ensure staff and families have read and understand the flu and/or pandemic plan and understand why it’s needed;

  3. Communicate reliable information to staff and children’s families on the issues.

    1. How to help control the spread of flu by handwashing/cleansing and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing (see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/);

    2. How to recognize a person that may have the flu, and what to do if they think they have the flu (see http://www.pandemicflu.gov);

    3. How to care for family members who are ill (see https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/general/influenza_flu_homecare_guide.pdf);

How to develop a family plan for dealing with a flu pandemic (see https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/index.htm).

Infection control policy and procedures:

  1. Develop a plan for keeping children who become ill at the child care facility away from other children until the family arrives, such as a fixed place for holding children who are ill in an area of their usual caregiving room or in a separate room where interactions with unexposed children and staff will be limited;

  2. Establish and enforce guidelines for excluding children with infectious diseases from attending the child care facility (1);

  3. Teach staff, children, and their parents/guardians how to limit the spread of infection (see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school);

  4. Maintain adequate supplies of items to control the spread of infection;

  5. Encourage families to consult their family healthcare provider regarding immunization protocols.

  6. All staff to remain highly vigilant of their personal hygiene routines and practice a proactive approach to maintaining a vibrant immune system.

  7.  Maintain accurate records when children or staff are ill with details regarding their symptoms and/or the kind of illness (especially when influenza was verified through testing);

  8. Practice daily health checks of children and staff each day for illness;

  9. Determine guidelines to support staff members to remain home if they think they might be ill and a mechanism to provide paid sick leave so they can stay home until completely well without losing wages.

Child learning and program operations:

  1. Plan how to deal with program closings and staff absences;

  2. Support families in continuing their child’s learning if the child care program or preschool is closed;

  3. Plan ways to continue basic functions (meeting payroll, maintaining communication with staff, children, and families) if modifications to program planning are necessary or the program is closed.

The facility should also include procedures for staff and parent/guardian training on this plan.