INTRODUCTION

By the very nature of preschoolers’ activity, diapered infants and toddlers, and normal infant mouthing behavior, preschoolers are naturally exposed to a higher rate of infection than are other children. Infections such as diarrhea and Hepatitis A are primarily spread by a fecal-oral route, meaning that there is a higher spread among children who are in diapers. Infections such as serious forms of meningitis, influenza, chickenpox, and most respiratory infections are spread by contact with respiratory secretions and lesions. Infections such as pink eye, impetigo, scabies, lice, ringworm, and chicken pox are spread by person to person contact. Fever blisters (Herpes) are spread by contact with urine and mainly saliva. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a viral infection most commonly found in newborns and often without symptoms in children, but one which can cause birth defects in unborn babies, is spread through urine and saliva. So far as is known by medical science, Hepatitis B and AIDS are spread by contact with blood (transfusions, across the placenta in the unborn baby and through the birth process) and intimate contact (sexual intercourse, and possibly breast feeding). There have been no known cases of Hepatitis B or AIDS spread in day care centers and none documented in daily living activities within families.

In order to minimize the spread of any infectious diseases within the preschool area and to insure the health and safety of all children and care givers, the following procedures will be followed.

SPECIFIC PROCEDURES

1. Diapers shall be changed in the child’s own crib or on a nonporous surface which is sanitized after each use.
2. Strict hand washing with antibacterial soap is of utmost importance in the prevention of the spread of infection. Therefore; care givers are required to wash hands with the antibacterial soap after each diaper change, after accompanying a child to the toilet, after assisting a child to wipe his/her nose, after contact with his/her own nasal secretions, and before food preparations. Care givers should make sure that a child’s hands are washed after using the toilet, after use of tissues for wiping eyes and nose, and before eating. Disposable towels will be used after hand washing.
3. When an infant or toddler is seen putting an object in to his/her mouth, this object shall be put into the sink for cleaning by the housekeeping staff by a disinfecting solution before being returned to the “clean toy” container.
4. The Preschool Minister should be notified of any spills, soiling of blood, urine, and feces, so that proper cleaning and disinfecting can be arranged with housekeeping staff.
5. All changing tables, toys and play equipment in the preschool area shall be cleaned by the housekeeping staff with the disinfecting solution after each session.

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