Health Care in Nursery School Proper Procedures Preventing

Health Care in Nursery School Proper Procedures: Preventing the Spread of Disease in Infant and Toddler Classrooms

�Infants, toddlers and their teachers come in contact with a variety of bodily fluids on a daily basis. Therefore, teachers must be trained to protect the health of the children and their own health.

The guidelines for preventing the spread of communicable diseases include the following: 1) proper handwashing procedures, 2) wearing disposable latex gloves whenever in contact with body fluids

3) cleaning all surfaces with a disinfectant 4) disposing of infectious materials (e. g. , contaminated clothing, diapers) in the proper manner, and 5) wearing a face mask, as a new measure to prevent spreading Covid-19

Here, we are going to focus on: �HANDWASHING MEASURE �SAFE AS A CONTROL DIAPERING PROCEDURES

HANDWASHING AS A CONTROL MEASURE �Following the proper procedures for washing hands is critical to the prevention of disease in early childhood facilities.

�There are specific times of the day when teachers should wash their hands: 1) before working with the children at the beginning of the day, 2) before diapering, 3) before preparing and serving bottles or other food,

4) after wiping a nose, 5) after administering first aid, 6) after diapering or helping a child use the toilet, and 7) before leaving the classroom for a break or at the end of the day.

�Children's hands should be washed as often as teachers. �Posting the procedures with accompanying pictures helps everyone to remember how to wash their hands properly.

Proper Handwashing Procedures �Turn the water on. Check to make sure that it is at a comfortable temperature and that disposable paper towels are available. �Moisten your hands under water and apply enough liquid soap.

�Wash your hands for 15 to 20 seconds. Scrub the front and back of your hands up to your wrists, between your fingers, and under your nails. �Rinse your hands under the running water.

�Dry your hands with disposable paper towels. �Turn the water off by grasping faucet (tap) handles with the paper towel you used to dry your hands. Dispose of the paper towel in the trash can. �Apply hand lotion to prevent cracking of the skin.

SAFE DIAPERING PROCEDURES �Many communicable diseases can be spread through improper diapering. �The procedures for diapering should be clearly posted with accompanying pictures.

Proper Diapering Procedures �Get all of the supplies that you need (diaper, wipes, latex gloves, clothes, etc. ). �Wash your hands, following the recommended procedures, and put on latex gloves.

�Place the child on a table and buckle the strap to assist holding him or her in place. Never leave the child unattended.

�Put the soiled clothes in a bag and securely tie it to send home. Open the diaper and fold over the tabs so they do not stick to the child's skin. Leave the soiled diaper under the child.

�Clean the child with baby wipes from front to back using a fresh wipe each time. Place the wipes inside the dirty diaper. �Remove the dirty diaper from underneath the child. Re-secure diaper with tabs.

�Remove the latex gloves by holding the diaper in your left hand using the right hand to pull the left glove off your hand over the diaper. Repeat with the right hand. (This way the germs stay inside the diaper and gloves. )

�Dispose of the diaper in a covered, lined step can or place the diaper on the corner of the changing table out of the child's reach. �Wash your hands with a disposable wipe. Dispose of the wipe.

�Put the clean diaper on and redress the child. �Assist the child in washing his or her hands. If the child is too young, you can wash his/her hands with either a baby wipe or wet, soapy paper towels. Return the child to the play area.

�Dispose of all the materials if it wasn't possible to do so before now. �Sanitize the changing table. �Wash your own hands. Record the diaper change on the child's chart.

Conclusion Following universal infection control precautions can greatly reduce the chances of children and teachers contracting communicable diseases.

The most common diseases: � Allergies � Acute Otitis Media (AOM) � Asthma � Bronchitis � Chicken Pox � Colds (Rhinovirus) � Conjunctivitis (bacterial/viral) � Gastroenteritis � Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease � Hepatitis A � Hepatitis B

� Influenza � Lice � Measles (Flu) � Meningitis � Mumps � Otitis (bacterial/viral) media (ear infections) � Pharyngitis (sore throat) � Pinworms; ringworm; tapeworm � Pneumonia � Salmonella � Streptococcus pneumoniae (“strep”) � Tonsillitis � Whooping cough � COVID-19

HOMEWORK: Answer �What the questions: are communicable diseases? Give a few examples of the most common ones. �What are the most important precaution measures? �What are the other ways of health care in nursery school (besides handwashing and safe diapering)? - Homework should be sent to mirjanagalic@yahoo. com until Tuesday, 24 November