Health Policies

Comox Valley Children’s Day Care Society Health Policy

As part of our desire to maintain a healthy environment for children we must adhere to the following guidelines

A child is not to be sent to the Child Care Program if he/she is sick. The Child Care Centre should be notified immediately if a child becomes ill. Any Communicable disease, such as chicken pox, measles, pink eye, whooping cough etc. must be reported to the staff.

Staff does not administer over the counter drugs or home remedies. Medication can only be administered with the written authority of the parent/guardian and then only the dose as prescribed by the doctor. The medication must be in its original container and labelled with the child’s name. Siblings cannot share medication.

Parents, whose children have allergic reactions (i.e. Bee stings), must provide a written confirmation and consent of treatment, along with the appropriate medication.

Parents are advised to keep their children at home, or to seek alternate care arrangements in the following situations:

  • Pain – any complaints of unexplained or undiagnosed pain;
  • An acute cold with fever, runny nose and eyes, coughing, and sore throat. 
  • Difficulty in breathing – wheezing or persistent cough;
  • Fever (over 100° F or 38.3° C) accompanied by general symptoms such as listlessness may be an early sign of illness that requires physician’s attention.
  • Sore throat or trouble swallowing;
  • Infected skin or eyes or an undiagnosed rash;
  • Headache and stiff neck;
  • Unexplained diarrhea or loose stool combined with nausea, vomiting or abdominal cramps. These symptoms may indicate a bacterial or viral (gastrointestinal) infection that is very easily passed from one child to another.
  • Severe itch of body and scalp;
  • Open, oozing sores that cannot be covered or kept under control with medication.
  • Head lice.

A child CANNOT ATTEND the program

  • If he/she shows any of the above symptoms;
  • If he/she is unable to participate in routine indoor and outdoor activities;
  • If the temperature is kept at normal range with the help of medication.

Families will be notified to take children home if they develop new symptoms of illness or if their symptoms get worse. In the case of diagnosed communicable diseases, we will advise the local community health nurse and the families of other children in the centre.

COVID Health Policy

Question: Does your child have any symptoms of illness?                                                         

Fever ,chills, cough, or worsening of chronic cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, loss of sense of smell or taste, headache ,fatigue, diarrhea, loss of appetite nausea and vomiting ,muscle aches. (from the CDC “COVID Guidelines for Child Care)     

Answer: “Yes”                                                                                                               

Action:

  1. They cannot attend child care or preschool
  2. You must consult with your doctor who can determine if your child needs a COVID test.
  3. Follow the direction of your doctor.
  4. Should your doctor recommend a COVID test, then a clear result is needed prior to returning to child care.
  5. Should your doctor not recommend a COVID test your child needs to remain at home until they are symptom- free. If your child’s condition worsens, you need to consult your Doctor again.
  6. Your child may return to the center once you have followed the steps above and they are symptom-free. If your child needs medication to get through the day (fever meds,cold meds, stomach remedies etc), they are still ill and cannot attend.

Question: Did your Doctor conclude that your child’s illness is due to asthma or allergies? Answer: “Yes”                                                                                                                             Action: Discuss this situation with your child’s Supervisor

Please do not ask our educators to make exceptions to these policies. We know it can be very difficult when your child is ill. Please plan ahead for this situation. We will be following these policies for the safety of all families and our staff.